Skip to content

Your First Flight

This guide walks through a typical flight session: recording a track, using the predictive track line, and reviewing your flight afterwards.

The Button Bar

The button bar at the bottom of the screen gives quick access to the most-used features:

Button bar

Before Launch

  1. Open JBalloonNav and verify your position appears on the map (blue marker)
  2. If the map isn't centred on you, tap Find Me Find Me
  3. Optional: tap GPS Lock GPS Lock to keep your position centred as you move

Start Recording

  1. Tap Start Tracking Start Tracking in the button bar
  2. The icon changes to indicate recording is active
  3. Your track will be drawn on the map as you move

Tip

Enable Settings → Keep Screen On to prevent the screen turning off during flight. Alternatively, grant background location permission and the track will record even with the screen off.

During Flight

  • The predictive track line extends ahead of your position, showing where the wind is taking you over the next 15 minutes (default). The line alternates colours every 15-minute segment.
  • The status bar at the top shows your position, altitude, speed, and bearing. Long-press any field to change what it displays.
  • Tap Show Airspace to toggle airspace boundaries on/off.

After Landing

  1. Tap Stop Tracking Stop Tracking
  2. Go to ☰ Menu → Manage Tracks to see your recorded track
  3. View statistics: distance, duration, average speed, max speed, min/max altitude
  4. Export your track as GPX or CSV if needed

Review Wind History

During recording, the app captures wind speed and direction at each altitude. To review:

  1. Tap ☰ Menu → Wind History
  2. View a table of wind velocity at each recorded height