U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Routine Mapping Application

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is a military demonstration group that performs aerial acrobatic stunts at air shows around the world. The group of six planes and over 120 support staff meticulously plan every air show to get a general layout of the surroundings and look for potential hazards. In the past, paper maps were used to aid the group in planning their routine, but they now seek an easier way to map and display their data. With the use of open source software, a web application was created that gives the planning staff and pilots the ability to dynamically create, edit, and view airshow routine maps on their mobile devices. The resulting web application allows for a more precise mapping process, easier editing and access, and hosts the data in a 3 dimensional environment for safety analysis.