Free Java application allows you to quickly enter, sort, and summarize your flights! Runs on any platform for which Java 1.4 is available.

To run the Nomad Flight Log, you must have Java 1.4 installed. If you do not, click here and click the link for the "JRE" for your platform. After installing, click the run link below:

You can:

• Quickly enter numerous flights using easy keyboard navigation with data conveniently pre-filled where appropriate.
• View summaries of your flights by site, glider, air type, and date range.
• Attach photos to your flying scrapbook. View full-size photo by clicking on the thumbnail.
• Sort your flights in the table view by clicking on the header of the column you wish to sort by.
• Attach files, like track logs, weather reports, etc, that can be launched with their associated programs by simply double-clicking the file name. If you use a non-Windows operating system, the file will be shown in your default browser.
• Copy your flight data to tab-delimited format for export into Excel or a text editor where you can print it.
• Import an existing Excel flight log by simply copying the Excel data and pasting it into the Nomad Flight Log. See Import Directions.
• Customize your view by removing any columns you don't want to use.

Table View

Summary View

Photos

File Attachments

Nomad Flight Log is a stand-alone Java application that runs on your computer and saves your flight log locally. It requires permission to save your log and access the system clipboard. The first time you launch the flight log, you will be prompted as to whether or not you want to start the flight log. The prompt contains a rather scary message about requesting "unrestricted" access and recommending that you do not run the flight log. If I wanted to pay several hundred dollars a year, I could get a digital signature which would make the message less intimidating. Since this is a free program that I wrote originally for my own use, I'm opting not to pay several hundred dollars a year and instead allow people to choose for themselves whether or not they want to hit the start button.

The flight log uses Java Web Start. According to Sun, the makers of Java: Java^TM Web Start -- a new application-deployment technology -- gives you the power to launch full-featured applications with a single click from your Web browser. You can now download and launch applications, such as a complete spreadsheet program or an Internet chat client, without going through complicated installation procedures.

Import Directions

To import data from Excel, arrange your columns in the following order:

• date
• location
• launch
• msl
• lz msl
• glider
• wind direction
• wind speed
• air type - Note: the values for this field must be exactly one of the following: Calm, Ridge Lift, Ridge & Thermal, Thermal, Tow
• max altitude
• max ascent
• max descent
• distance
• notes
• flight duration

If you don't track some of these fields, just leave the column blank, but be sure the column is there. On your date column, right-click the header and select "Format". Then choose the type that reads: "3/14/98 1:30 PM". Then copy all the data from Excel, open the Nomad Flight Log, and hit the "Paste" button at the bottom of the Flight Log Table View.

Launch Error

Did you get an error message after installing Java Web Start that says:
The application has requested a version of the Java 2 platform (JRE) that is currently not locally installed. Java Web Start was unable to automatically download and install the requested version. The JRE version must be installed manually.?
This is a bug caused by Sun (which will hopefully be fixed soon) which means you will need to manually install the necessary java version. To do so, go to the java download page and click the link for the "JRE" for your platform.

After downloading and installing the JRE, you need to configure Java Web Start to use it. Do so by starting Java Web Start (on Windows either by double-clicking on the desktop icon or choosing Java Web Start from the Start Menu). Then go to File-->Preferences and click the Java tab. Then click "Find", then "Next", and then select the folder where you installed the "JRE" and click "Next". After Java Web Start finds the file named "javaw.exe", click "Next" again to finish the installation. Nomad Flight Log should now function properly. I apologize for the inconvenience. Sun has been dragging their feet in fixing this bug but it should be done fairly soon.

I know I haven't provided much in the way of instructions (I'm hoping it's easy to use!), so I'm eager to answer any questions and make improvements. Please contact me, Peter Warren, at peter@nomad.org.