Hi, I am looking for a software which will allow me to draw courses on maps, just like in the FS Flight Planner, just with the ability to do it on real maps, saved as image files (for ex. sectional maps).In other words, I want to be able to load an image file, and then be able to draw lines on it, view the heading and length of each line, and save each "bunch" of lines (which is one flight plan) in its own file.Is there a small, simple software which will answer my needs? Thanks ahead, Guy.

Hi Guy. Can you say a little more about what you want to DO with this? In other words, are you looking for flight planning that is done over topographical maps are the images you produce what is most important?

There is a powerful freeware program which can do what you want, called fgis. It helps to have an understanding of GIS concepts first.http://www.forestpal.com/fgis.htmlSomething a little less difficult to work with, if you don't have GIS knowledge, is a little program called PocketFMS.http://www.pocketfms.com/On this one you are forced to use the downloadable data, you can't install arbitrary maps but it also has a flight planner.I should also mention there are addons for Google earth that draw US sectionals on the GE and also to display flightplans.scott s..

Hi Scott, thanks for the help. Can you be more specific about the GE addons? Which one do you exactly recommend?

How about this?http://www.flyagogo.net/?KPAO-KTCY-KMODenter your flight plan on top.. like KPAO-KTCY-KMOD get...your lines drawn on a sectional. Then save it as a PDF or simply as a webpage.. in some flightplan folder of your own.Manny

The sectional overlays for GE are provided via a kmz download here:http://www.fox-fam.com/wordpress/?page_id=9The site I had at one time required you to upload a .pln file (lost the link). You can download flips11.zip from here to get a java-based convertor which will convert a pln file to a kml. Of course, you could use any other kml tool to generate your kml from points, shapefiles, whatever.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/154343.jpgscott s..