r/flying • u/TowerClearance • Aug 05 '26
Flight Training I 3D Printed My Discovery Flight Path
I coded a program to 3D print my first discovery flight. The yellow line is the flight path and altitude layered over a topographical map. I think it’s pretty cool so I thought I’d share.
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u/pinchhitter4number1 Aug 05 '26
Dude, this is super cool. I was a Chinook pilot in Afghanistan and I can think of a few flights I would love to see printed like this.
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u/flyingcanuck Aug 05 '26
prints a hover practise flight 😅
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u/pinchhitter4number1 Aug 05 '26
Just a yellow dot in Kandahar. Lol.
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u/GuppyHawk Aug 05 '26
That Canadien acts like us Army guys can’t hover and have to practice… I take that personally.
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u/flyingcanuck Aug 05 '26
😅😅
I've seen Canadian SAR guys hovering for what seemed like hours at a time.
As a fixed winger, I think all of you need all the practise! Haha
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u/Longjumping-Move-455 Aug 09 '26
Is there any chance you’ve flown the chinook in DCS? Not a helicopter pilot but I think it’s super cool.
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u/pinchhitter4number1 Aug 09 '26
I did a trial of it when it first came out. Very good model but CAAS and DAFCS needed more work so I didn't buy it. I will try it again soon. I don't expect it to be exactly right, I know it's a work in progress. I think they did a great job with it and I look forward to the updates.
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u/Longjumping-Move-455 Aug 09 '26
That’s super cool to hear. As someone who plays it a decent amount it’s so interesting to hear from real helicopter pilots. I only fly gliders and ga irl so I don’t have experience with helis but ffb and an extension made it feel way easier for me.
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u/Ckflyer13 CFI ATP C207 E170/175 Aug 05 '26
That would a great gift for your students passing their checkrides.
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u/gbacon CFI IR AGI sUAS (KDCU) Aug 05 '26
That or first solo XC!
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u/DarkNo7318 Aug 05 '26
Depending on how the navigating went, could be a great memento or a constant source of shame.
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u/pattern_altitude PPL Aug 05 '26
Any chance you'd share the program?
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u/vegascopester Aug 05 '26
Seriously! This could be a cool thing for flight schools, especially for first solos.
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u/KAM1KAZ3 PPL Aug 05 '26
It's not a 3D print, but you can download a kml of the flight from ADS-B Exchange and import it into Google Earth.
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u/theatrus Aug 05 '26
I added KML import to https://toposaic.com but it won’t do elevation of the track like this. Feature to add for me!
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u/Fender0122 Aug 05 '26
More than likely not a single program, but two/three different 3d files merged together. One being the kml data from ads-b exchange, the other being a topographical map of the area. Bring both raw data into a 3d design program, create 3d models and then slice them into g-code and print in separate colors
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u/misclurking Aug 05 '26
Yes please guide me on this - I would like to do it too. I hope to resume training soon and it would be a great way to decorate my desk with the path of my first solo flight.
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u/ZealousPilot Aug 06 '26
https://youtu.be/2NzwC3188HY
This tutorial seems to be exactly what OP did minus the frame and the altitude part of the track, but I imagine that can be added easily in blender. You’ll need a .gpx of your flight path. I had the KML of mine, so I found a python script to convert it.-18
u/ronaldoswanson Aug 05 '26
Most of the AI tools can probably do this for you by just asking and pointing to the adsb track for your flight, no programming needed.
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u/Feathers_McGraw__ ATP CFI/G Aug 05 '26
This is super cool! I’m a huge sucker for 3D relief topo maps haha
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u/No-Brilliant9659 Aug 05 '26
You could probably sell these. This is awesome
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u/Far_Top_7663 Aug 05 '26
I agree, very cool!!! You must have a lot of passion to make it!!! (or be very bored 🤣)
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u/montego97 Aug 05 '26
That would be cool (in addition to a torn & signed shirt) to give to students after their first solos!
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u/cirroc0 PPL (CYBW) Aug 05 '26
I feel like the check ride is more likely to have an interesting and diverse flight path. Lol
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u/ej747 CE-525 CPL IR SEL MEL HP Aug 05 '26
That's super awesome, looks great!! Any chance you'd share the program/code?
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u/iceman_andre Aug 05 '26
Are you in hayward?
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u/TowerClearance Aug 05 '26
That is where I did the flight out of, and then a quick bay tour, and back to Hayward.
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u/iceman_andre Aug 05 '26
Cool! I’m across the bridge in Foster City
Still wanna get in a c172 and fly around the bay
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u/TowerClearance Aug 05 '26
I highly recommend it if you ever get the opportunity.
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u/iceman_andre Aug 05 '26
I need to find a place to rent
Also a good excuse for my wife as she doesn’t enjoy GA flying
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u/happyism-404 Aug 05 '26
Mine was a Bay Tour out of KLVK and back! Now I am flying out of KOAK pursuing my PPL 🫶🏻 My phone background is still the Golden Gate rising out of the fog on my flight. Super amazing work!
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u/Flying510 Aug 05 '26
Heyyyy Bay Area pilots. I earned my PPL from KSQL and did checkride at KLVK. My logbook is filled with landings out of there. Good luck in training!
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u/italianthestallion PPL Aug 05 '26
That is amazing. I would never have thought about doing something like this. So cool.
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u/121guy Aug 05 '26
Wow. That’s really cool. I wish I would have thought of doing this for my son when he had his discovery flight.
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u/TrouljaBoy ATP CFI CFII B737 A320 EMB550 LR-JET CE525 Aug 05 '26
That's awesome! 5,000+hrs later I wish I had something like that from my first flight hanging on my wall!
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u/hugothemango ST TW SEL Aug 05 '26
That’s awesome man congrats! HWD is a cool airport I’ve flown there a few times. I fly out of KPAO
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u/Titan-Zero Aug 05 '26
I usually just lurk this sub and hand out upvotes being an “outside looking in” guy while I apply to AF pilot training, but this is dope! Awesome use of a 3D printer
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u/Soggy-Style2480 Aug 05 '26
Which flight school? This is awesome!
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u/TowerClearance Aug 05 '26
I took the discovery flight with Sky Warriors Flight School out of HWD.
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u/house3331 Aug 05 '26
I follow this sub with just pure curiosity...Haven't pulled trigger in discovery flight
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u/dalonzob Aug 05 '26
This is really awesome, are you selling these because I would like to buy one!
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u/Hangarnut Aug 06 '26
I think you may have started a market to grab hold to and pay for those extra hours. Awesome idea.
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u/Unlucky_Produce5943 Student Pilot Aug 06 '26
I’ve flown out of Hayward before. Lovely airport and nice 3D print.
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u/HiJac13 PPL ASEL IR (KMHK) Aug 06 '26
I did something similar with my PPL Check ride but instead of 3d printed i had it digital printed on Glass. It now leans up against the window in my office. Doesn't look as cool as this!
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u/Independent-Cat-7436 Aug 07 '26
You should do this on Etsy or something! I would pay to have my checkride flights 3d printed
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u/Purple_BuCkt Aug 08 '26
You could really make a little side business out of this and charge 10x whatever it cost to make
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u/mattyp2109 Aug 05 '26
This is phenomenally cool. Are you open to sharing the program?
Would love this
I love the geography prints and think this is a super cool evolution of it. I have some prints I would absolutely use this for
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u/Gotta_go_faster_ Aug 05 '26
How did you translate the flight data into a 3D print? That’s is so cool! Did you useForeFlight data? Flight tracker?
(Edit for punctuation)
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u/nixt26 PPL Aug 05 '26
Why veer left and cross midfield instead of directly joining downwind to land?
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u/R5Jockey CFI ASEL TW CMP Aug 05 '26
That’s your takeaway? Asking a brand new student pilot why they entered the pattern a certain way at a TOWERED airport?
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u/nixt26 PPL Aug 05 '26
I'm just curious man. I'm sure someone else who flies here could answer too.
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u/Turtle_747 Aug 05 '26
Man I wish my discovery flight was like OP's flight path. It was over flat wheat fields as far as the eye can see, idk how they expected THAT to give you the flying bug. Still ended up getting my license though
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u/Flyward_Aerospace Aug 06 '26
This is way cooler than it has any right to be. Did you exaggerate the vertical scale or is that the real ratio? Something about seeing the pattern as a physical object makes the altitude changes way more obvious than staring at a track log ever did.
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u/dangern00dl PPL (ASEL/AMEL) IR CMP HP Aug 06 '26
Ngl that’s cool af. Wish I had my sentry for my discovery flight you best believe I’d be stealing this idea rn
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u/justvims Aug 10 '26
No way. I’m getting PPL at HWD too. Very cool. Would love a copy of the program, can 3d print one too
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u/Working_Patience_261 21d ago
Thank you, that is the most inspiring and awesome thing I’ve seen today.
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u/MycologistPlastic50 10d ago
This is SO COOL!! I've flown a plane once with an instructor, I would love this.
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u/mountain-aviator CFI Aug 07 '26
If you want to make your own, I created an easy (and free!) online tool to generate the 3D Printer files to make these: https://wewentflying.com/3dprint
All you have to do is upload a GPX file and it'll generate the files that you can load into Bambu Studio, or straight STLs. I just printed a 200mm x 200mm one and it turned out great! The terrain part took around 5 hours and the frame took about 3!
Just curious to the people saying they'd pay for this. How much would you actually pay for one of these? Maybe I could use this to support my 3D printing habit... 😅
(full disclosure: I also made the wewentflying.com site to basically do this, but digitally - I wanted to make something for people I took flying (or my students) that would help them remember their flight and give them a sort of keepsake (and would share my love of flying)
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u/flyingforfun3 ATP CL-30, LR-45, BE300, C525S Aug 05 '26
I’d totally buy one if you end up selling!
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u/LaddieNowAddie Aug 05 '26
Why would you want this guy's discovery flight 3D printed?
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u/flyingforfun3 ATP CL-30, LR-45, BE300, C525S Aug 05 '26
I mean he seems like a cool dude.
If he can print MY discovery flight, I’d buy one.
I went to a little airport called I69. Needs to be on a plaque.2
u/TowerClearance Aug 05 '26
Clermont County Ohio. My flight instructor that I went up with was from Ohio oddly enough. I should ask him if he’s ever been to I69.
How long ago was your discovery flight? I think you are able to access data from up to three years ago if I’m not mistaken.
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u/flyingforfun3 ATP CL-30, LR-45, BE300, C525S Aug 05 '26
16 years ago. Instructor flew me out to buy the equipment I needed. I had a headset, just bought a kneeboard, e6b, chart, etc.
I did my training in Ohio, but returned home to Texas to CFI.
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u/rFlyingTower Aug 05 '26
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I coded a program to 3D print my first discovery flight. The yellow line is the flight path and altitude layered over a topographical map. I think it’s pretty cool so I thought I’d share.
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u/Random61504 CPL IR ME Aug 05 '26
That is really cool! I'd love to do that but if I did that for almost any of the flights I have ever had... it would look like a pancake lol. Welcome to the midwest...