VFR virtual geocaching (nerd alert)
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:34 am
My latest hobby...
1. Using Skyvector, drop a pinpoint on something that you would like to see in a real world photo, e.g. a tower, bridge, reporting point, VOR, etc.
2. Copy the GPS coordinates from the "Flight Plan" section for that point (for a VOR: pinpoint the VOR first, add a second pinpoint a few inches away, then drag the second pinpoint to sit right on top of the first pinpoint choosing the "GPS" entry rather than the VOR one; this technique will usually gets you pretty close when viewing it in step 3).
3. Paste the GPS coordinates exactly as saved into your clipboard directly into Bing Maps, e.g. http://binged.it/1s84f8f, and make sure you select the "Bird's eye" view.
The fun part is the that you may be a few hundred feet away from your intended target (due to the lack of fine resolution on the charts), and that little hunt around the map can be exciting. e.g. finding a tower that's under 500ft AGL is harder than you'd think, probably because of the perspective that the bird's eye view angle provides).
Hours of nerdy fun awaits you!
1. Using Skyvector, drop a pinpoint on something that you would like to see in a real world photo, e.g. a tower, bridge, reporting point, VOR, etc.
2. Copy the GPS coordinates from the "Flight Plan" section for that point (for a VOR: pinpoint the VOR first, add a second pinpoint a few inches away, then drag the second pinpoint to sit right on top of the first pinpoint choosing the "GPS" entry rather than the VOR one; this technique will usually gets you pretty close when viewing it in step 3).
3. Paste the GPS coordinates exactly as saved into your clipboard directly into Bing Maps, e.g. http://binged.it/1s84f8f, and make sure you select the "Bird's eye" view.
The fun part is the that you may be a few hundred feet away from your intended target (due to the lack of fine resolution on the charts), and that little hunt around the map can be exciting. e.g. finding a tower that's under 500ft AGL is harder than you'd think, probably because of the perspective that the bird's eye view angle provides).
Hours of nerdy fun awaits you!