3D IGC Viewer for Paragliding

What is a 3D IGC Viewer?

A 3D IGC viewer renders your flight track over realistic terrain, showing you exactly where you flew. Unlike flat 2D maps, a 3D viewer gives you perspective on altitude changes, ridge soaring, valley crossings, and terrain features - bringing your flight back to life.

Every IGC file contains GPS coordinates, altitude, and timestamps. A good 3D viewer combines this with satellite terrain data to create an accurate 3D replay of your flight.

2D vs 3D IGC Viewers

2D Viewers (XContest, IGC Webview)

What they show: Your flight path drawn on a flat map. Good for seeing distance, turnpoints, and basic route.

Best for: Quick track checks, competition verification, comparing routes side-by-side.

Limitation: No sense of terrain. You can't see ridge lines, valley depth, or the 3D shape of your flight.

3D Viewers (SkyViz, Google Earth)

What they show: Your flight track overlaid on real 3D terrain. You can rotate, tilt, and zoom to see exactly how you flew relative to mountains, valleys, and other features.

Best for: Understanding terrain decisions, analyzing thermal locations, reviewing ridge soaring technique, creating videos for social media.

Advantage: True spatial perspective. You see your flight the way it actually happened in 3D space.

What to Look for in a 3D IGC Viewer

• Real terrain data: High-quality satellite elevation models for accurate ground representation
• Smooth playback: Replay your flight in real-time or sped up, with smooth camera movements
• Flight metrics overlay: See altitude, speed, vario, and other stats in real-time during replay
• Multi-track support: Compare multiple flights or pilots side-by-side (great for races)
• Camera controls: Rotate, pan, and follow your flight from different angles
• Web-based (no install): Access from any device without downloading software

How to Use a 3D IGC Viewer

1. Get your IGC file from your flight tracker
2. Upload it to a 3D viewer (like SkyViz)
3. Use the controls to replay, rotate, and analyze your flight
4. Export as video or screenshots to share

Popular 3D IGC Viewer Options

SkyViz

Web-based 3D viewer with automatic camera movements, real terrain, and one-click video export. Designed specifically for paragliding with features like multi-track comparison and social media overlays. Free logbook included, Pro plan for unlimited 3D and video.

Google Earth

You can import IGC files (converted to KML) into Google Earth for basic 3D viewing. Free, but limited flight-specific features and no video export without Earth Studio (which requires manual setup).

XContest Map (2D)

XContest's built-in map is 2D only but excellent for competition flights and comparing routes. If you need 3D replay or video, you'll need a separate tool like SkyViz.

Frequently Asked Questions