GPS Flight Track - Google Earth

Here's how I used my GPS running watch (Garmin Forerunner 110) to record a Radian thermal flight to 230m and view it in Google Earth. You could use a dedicated GPS flight recorder but I already had the watch. 

Strap the watch onto your glider, adjust CG by moving the battery forward.

Record the flight.

Transfer the flight file to Garmin Training Center on your Mac or PC.

Export the flight file from Garmin Training Center as TCX - Training Center XML file.

You can import this straight into Google Earth but with no choice of trace colour. 

For more colour and appearance choices Import the TCX file into GPSvisualizer.com

Choose Google Earth KML to get more export options

Change "Altitude mode" to "Absolute (for flight)". This prevent the track from being locked down to ground level by Google Earth.

Change "Colorize by" to "Altitude". This gives different colours for increasing heights and a legend in the Google Earth side bar.

Import the resulting KMZ file into Google Earth and view your flight in all it's wonderful 3Dness.

More Radian videos 

Radian Maiden

View from a Radian

Radian slope soaring (and getting attacked by seagulls)