hotairballoonist

I must give credit for this idea to Todd Hastie. We all know that there are a BUNCH of potential targets at the National Balloon Classic. Sometimes while using the HotAir.app it is rather difficult to figure out exactly which target pin you are trying to fly at. While the recently added feature called the “Long Tap” gives you the ability to place a target on the map while you are flying and it draws a line from where you are to the target (See page 7 of the HotAir.app tutorial) you still must figure out what target pin you are flying at! Todd’s idea was to create a KML file for each of the targets therefore allowing you to turn on only the targets you are going to be flying at on that flight. While I have great admiration for the time and effort Todd has put into making a separate KML file for each of the 140 targets! The process of downloading 140 separate KML files to use in your HotAir.app is something most would never do BUT…. What if we made the KML files so they were grouped in “Tens”? For example; A KML for targets 100-110 and 111-120 and 121-130 and so on. In some cases like target group (301-310) there are only 3 targets in that range or (371-380) has only 2 targets in that range. So for example let’s say you have a flight where your targets are #274, #258, #102, #159, & #136. Then you would go into your Custom KML overlays and turn on KML files 100-110, 131-140, 151-160, 251-260, & 271-280. This would show only 27 target pins on your entire map instead of all 140. This would make finding the exact target you are flying too much easier. Now granted you will still have to download 29 KML’s to do this but that shouldn’t take more than about 10 minutes but it will save that amount of time ten fold during the flight when time is most precious. If you wish to use this process for finding targets select “Download this File” and you will find all 29 KML’s here for you to download. Currently there are NO TARGETS in the KML files for groups (351-360), (361-370), (381-390), & (391-400). So you will not see a KML file for those number groups. Target group 340, 350,375, & 402 only have a single target in them. This leaves you with 29 KML’s to download. Thank you Todd for this great idea!

This video tutorial shows how to delete old files and download new files for the HotAir.app here on HotAirballoonist.com.

This is a copy of official map for the Classic. It was downloaded at 7am (EDT) Monday July 21st 2025 REMEMBER: This is an additional flight aid. The Paper map is the official map for the event. We have gone to great effort to make this map as accurate as we can. We also make a serious attempt to keep this map updated as often as the official "Paper Map" is amended. However the official event "Paper Map" is the official event map. IMPORTANT!!! Don't forget to check the "FOLLOW" button for this file so you will be notified when new versions have been uploaded. This is the National Balloon Classic Paper Map (Digital Version). This is version 1.0 Below are two links to video tutorials that will help download these files to your device. A third link shows the process for viewing your flight tracks in 3D using the 3D PZ KML on the HotAir.app Download to an iPad or iPad mini Download to an iPhone Viewing Flight tracks in 3D CLICK the "Download This File" button below to be taken directly to this file to download the file!

THIS is the 2025 Target KML file. This is the 2025 file. REMEMBER: This is an additional flight aid. The Paper map is the official map for the event. We have gone to great effort to make this map as accurate as we can. We also make a serious attempt to keep this map updated as often as the official "Paper Map" is amended. However the official event "Paper Map" is the official event map. IMPORTANT!!! Don't forget to check the "FOLLOW" button for this file so you will be notified when new versions have been uploaded. This is the National Balloon Classic Targets KML. This is version 1.0 Below are two links to video tutorials that will help download these files to your device. A third link shows the process for viewing your flight tracks in 3D using the 3D PZ KML on the HotAir.app Download to an iPad or iPad mini Download to an iPhone Viewing flights in 3D CLICK the "Download This File" button below to be taken directly to this file to download the file!

This video tutorial is for downloading a KML PZ file for use on an iPad or iPad mini.