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Planes in Flight in Google Earth (revisited)

December 6, 2005

Planes in Flight Flying in Google Earth screenshotIt is becoming something of a passion for some, looking at the high resolution satellite and aerial photography to find a shot of an aircraft in flight somewhere on the Earth. As previously reported here and here people at the Google Earth Community have been collecting the locations of pictures of planes captured in flight in the Google Earth data.
The folks at the GEC have been creating a database which is being updated daily, and until recently you had to go to the main post and re-download the KMZ file to get the latest updates. Now, my friend Valery up in Russia has created a network link for the plane collections including the airplanes in flights, airports, locations of DC3s, and locations of Starships. He has also put train/rail-related collections as well. Once you download the network link, move it to your “My Places” folder for safe keeping. Then, click on the “Transportation” folder to see what it contains. Click on the folder you want to examine and explore. I recommend the “Air->All Aircraft in Flight”. You will be amazed at the dozens of planes in flight people have found. Double click on the placemarks to get a close-up view of these planes.
One thing you may notice is that some of the planes have a “ghost”. This is not a shadow, but is in fact an artifact of satellite imagery and the fact that planes are in motion. You can read an explanation here. A tip: when you are done looking at all the placemarks you can select the main folder with the right mouse button and choose “Hide Contents” to deselect all the placemarks. Then click on the folder “triangle” to open/close the folder.

About Frank Taylor

Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.

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Filed Under: Flying, Sightseeing

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PLEASE NOTE: Google Earth Blog is no longer writing regular posts. As a result, we are not accepting new comments or questions about Google Earth. If you have a question, use the official Google Earth and Maps Forums or the Google Earth Community Forums.

Comments

  1. Jason says

    December 6, 2005 at 12:30 pm

    Guess you have to have an account to login to the keyhole BBS? I have wondered what those colored “shadows” were from. 🙂

  2. Frank Taylor says

    December 6, 2005 at 10:13 pm

    Huh? I’m not sure what you’re talking about. There is no “account” required to see the GE (formerly called Keyhole) database. The free Google Earth can see the entire dataset.

  3. geographer91 says

    January 10, 2006 at 3:01 pm

    I got the free google earth and the entire database is amazing cheers!!!

  4. Nikki says

    March 31, 2006 at 1:49 pm

    I’ve checked out Google earth but the views where from a couple of years ago, and there is no clear vision at all for North of Scotland. Will this be getting changed, I have downloaded the free version but am reluctant to subscribe without knowing more.
    Anyone got any answers for me Please

  5. Frank Taylor says

    March 31, 2006 at 7:25 pm

    The data you see in the free version is the best Google currently makes available. Buying the GE Plus or Pro versions will not let you see more satellite data.

  6. john cox says

    July 13, 2006 at 8:14 pm

    i like looking at planes in flight

  7. jox cohn says

    November 1, 2006 at 7:23 pm

    i like looking at people in flight, but they are harder to find

  8. emma says

    December 17, 2006 at 12:32 pm

    how old are the images on google earth?

  9. Theo says

    January 1, 2007 at 8:13 pm

    Have a look at:
    52°13’2.76″N, 5°36’59.90″E

  10. blackadder says

    June 20, 2007 at 7:34 am

    take a look at this 50°3’6.04” N, 8°36’59.85” E

  11. G-DUBYA says

    July 25, 2007 at 8:05 am

    Hey! That last location is interesting……. four aircraft shadows but only three aircraft? Hmmmmm, must be the new ‘stealth’ Airbus? ;o)

  12. G-DUBYA says

    July 25, 2007 at 8:58 am

    Not in flight, but take a look here at 32°09’11.24″N, 110°51’58.30″E. Or more strictly, to the northeast and east of the southern tip of the runway…

  13. Robert says

    July 26, 2007 at 10:50 am

    This one seems to be a B737 landing at J. Newery Airpark, Buenos Aires City, on rwy. 31:
    34 33 54.22 S
    58 24 17.89 W

  14. Chief Musser says

    August 1, 2007 at 1:09 pm

    If you look around over the Nazca Lines in Peru, you’ll find at least 2 little planes (and their corrsponding shadows on the ground), that’s all I found earlier today anyway … sorry, finding a plane ‘in the way’ when you’re looking for something else is well, kinda cool, but I don’t get as charged up about it as you do, apparently. I agree with the commenter who said that flying people would be cooler, but they’re harder to find … haven’t found any of those yet.

  15. Gabor Nagy says

    August 15, 2007 at 6:42 am

    I`ve just found an interesting location 50° 3’6.04″N, 8°36’59.85″E. Now I realize that I am not the first one to feel that this is weird!
    1) 4 shadows in a row for only 3 aircrafts
    2) for the 2 shadows from the west there are no corresponding aircrafts as shadows lie north-north-east from objects as evidenced by any object on Frankfurt Airport, or, much nicer, in Frankfurt City!!!
    3) except from an airshow, can anyone think of 3 Lufthansa 747s separated by mere 4-500 meters (meaning 3-5 seconds)from each other??? Is it one single plane captured somehow thrice by the satellite?
    NGT

  16. Frank Taylor says

    August 15, 2007 at 7:36 am

    Hi Gabor, the 3 planes and 4 shadows from Frankfurt airport were discovered in March 2006 – shortly after the image update of that month. You are right, it is a single airplane. An aircraft taking the aerial photos happened to be flying in the same direction and took the four pictures as the airliner was taking off. In one of the photos, only the shadow was captured.
    See this thread:
    http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/359471

  17. 链条 says

    August 15, 2007 at 9:36 am

    how old are the images on google earth?

  18. Stephan says

    August 19, 2007 at 7:09 pm

    Don’t know whether this little aircraft over Ludwigsburg, Germany was already spotted: 48°53’44.65″N 9°11’21.31″E
    I didn’t find a shodow, though 🙂
    Stephan

  19. devon says

    September 22, 2007 at 1:18 am

    how do you make it look like a movie while you are flying? please reply.

  20. Walter Ochs says

    October 9, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    Here are some interesting ones: Helicopters near Las Vegas @ 36°14’39.64″N 115° 1’52.01″W , A giant Rabbit @ 44°14’38.97″N 7°46’10.58″E

  21. Yakido says

    January 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    I go fishing in the beautiful Exuma Island chain in the Bahamas. I use Google Earth to spot potential dive sites. There are several wrecks that I fish regularly, and a few sunken planes too.
    I was looking if the wreck of a Haitian sloop was visible, – I didn’t find that – but I did spot this light aircraft seemingly incoming to either Leaf Cay or Blackpoint – or maybe even Staniel Cay itself where I am based.
    The lat long of the plane I spotted is:
    24°10’5.23″N
    76°29’20.21″W
    Is this a new one?
    Frank

  22. Samantha F says

    January 19, 2008 at 10:43 am

    I found this one while looking at cutovers in Newfoundland, The cutovers are to the north, I was following the highway down just looking at random things.
    48°59’23.98″N, 56°02’27.55″W

  23. Steve M says

    April 17, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    A small aircraft in flight at 43°03’23.42″N 88°15’18.92″W, and a shadow-only landing at 32°55’01.23″N 97°01’34.77″W.

  24. Bolsa de empleo freelance says

    October 25, 2008 at 8:40 am

    Nice site, I found one airplance a year a go but it’s not there anymore, 25°09’11.42″N 12°18’10.28″W could it be because of the google updates?

  25. Gabriel says

    January 2, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    Take a look at 43°30’56.81″ N and 6°56’15.93″ E (in France)…I guess this is a two engine Cessna.

  26. Frank Taylor says

    January 2, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    @Gabriel: Looks like a new find. I’ve reported it for you at the GEC.

  27. Ulli Ziegenfuß says

    July 23, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    49°25’06.39″N 7°39’56.93″E
    What plane is it?

  28. Bob says

    August 30, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    I have found and Airbus A380 right next to london, heathrow in flight.

  29. Jimmy says

    September 17, 2009 at 1:03 am

    35°20’23.00″N 97°20’44.87″W From nearby Tinker AFB.

  30. brian says

    September 30, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    i found a plane in 3d at Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport copy and paste Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport and put in search and look for a 3d plane

  31. brian says

    October 5, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    i found a plane thats green and is probaly being built not in flight but cool at 51°28’20.00″N 0°25’58.43″W

  32. brian says

    October 5, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    i found a plane at 51°28’27.19″N 0°25’47.55″W is it flying?

  33. pauli says

    October 15, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    I found a shadow of a plane landing at Dallas airport but dont see a plane.
    32.55’2.61 N 97.1’33.29 W on runway 17C.
    Any answers?

  34. brian says

    November 1, 2009 at 11:12 am

    one near sicly at 38°15’11.63″N 15°37’55.77″E

  35. Lordlugworm says

    December 1, 2009 at 10:43 am

    51°32’40.99″N 2°52’16.37″w
    another light aircraft flying. uk wales

  36. Chris says

    December 8, 2009 at 5:09 pm

    Helicopter in flight at:
    30° 23.827’N 81° 25.815’W

  37. Jerry Simmons says

    January 10, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    Found another – just west of Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam – 10°42’1.37″N, 106°45’7.69″E.

  38. Rob says

    January 14, 2010 at 11:38 am

    What are your thoughts – It’s gotta be a plane right?!
    51°21’16.76″N 1°20’29.66″W

  39. Alan says

    February 9, 2010 at 2:47 am

    -17.960496,145.922985 plane and ghost

    • Hans Timothy says

      September 16, 2013 at 7:28 am

      It is not a ghost. It is because of the sunlight…

  40. Dobrin Kolarov says

    September 2, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Here’s another one, with rainbow ghost:
    42.669133, 23.151659

  41. Chavdar Karapanchev says

    September 14, 2010 at 11:27 am

    See at Lat:42.668760° Lon: 23.151383°

  42. David Hansen says

    February 19, 2011 at 10:36 am

    Excellent shot of jet over fairlawn, nj
    40.93140, -74.11370

  43. John says

    February 20, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    Regarding Brian’s input from October 5, 2009: The green “aircraft” at 51°28’20.00″N 0°25’58.43″W at London’s Heathrow Airport, is a “mix/mockup” of a 747/DC10, that the firebrigade at EGLL use to train in and around, putting out fires.

  44. Josh says

    March 4, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    Amazingly clear shot of a commercial jet over Russell Square, London.
    51°31’21.11 N 0°7’33.88 W

  45. Deskpilt says

    March 14, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    At 41°52’47.71″N 87°59’12.40″W and American Airlines MD-80 is lining up for final approach to Chicago O’Hare Int’l RWY 4R. Based on cross-referencing FAA approch plates (http://www.myairplane.com) I estimate that it’s at an altitude of ~2200′ MSL

  46. Deskpilot says

    March 15, 2011 at 12:22 am

    See if this helps for above post:
    http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/48487/2674420050106670828S500x500Q85.jpg

  47. deskpilot says

    March 15, 2011 at 12:38 am

    Same location as above, but a dofferent view, showing the imaging artifacts.
    It looks like a formation flight, but we know better
    http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/47036/2023182730106670828S500x500Q85.jpg

  48. matt says

    May 1, 2011 at 8:13 am

    http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Southgate+%26+Co,+Seven+Sisters+Road,+London&aq=0&sll=51.508742,0.020599&sspn=0.327362,0.891953&ie=UTF8&hq=Southgate+%26+Co,+Seven+Sisters+Road,&hnear=Westminster,+London,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.580483,-0.074276&spn=0.00494,0.013937&t=h&z=17
    tottenham, london

  49. Ken Cahill says

    June 24, 2011 at 6:43 am

    I have found an aircraft on GE It is almost exactly 2miles directly West of Porto Colom Majorca (Spanish terretory)Has this been reported before. There is also a perculiar shadow.

  50. Haluk Somer says

    June 30, 2011 at 7:07 am

    An A340-600 is leaving Istanbul;
    lat:41.192401
    lon:28.425086

  51. Joanna says

    July 12, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    I saw planes in flight refueling over my home in CT. I was wondering if anyone can tell me anything about this. I couldn’t get a pic but I know what I saw. I could actually see the fuel line connecting the planes. This was Sun. evening July 10,2011

  52. Nicolas Kolosy says

    September 17, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Found 2 twin-engines planes captured in flight.
    First one in France near Rodez: 44°32’29.94″N 2°14’25.62″E
    Secondone in Syria near Damascus: 33°23’37.98″N 36°33’38.18″E

  53. Bob says

    December 19, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    35 10′ 43.25″ N
    80 42′ 36.85″ W
    Above a Charlotte, NC trailer park, seems to be a commuter plane. Blurred with separation of colors.

  54. bert says

    January 7, 2012 at 7:55 am

    Glider
    46°18’19.87″N, 7°03’26.62″E

  55. Dudley says

    January 27, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Vista Del Cerro, Phoenix, AZ 85028
    Looks like 5 images of the same US Airways plane over a Phoenix suburb and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

  56. dave says

    January 27, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    check out this two engined jet with flying at high altitude on its way across the big pond
    53.416055, -10.192394

  57. Len says

    February 16, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    Hey have a look at this bright one in Norther Ontario
    47°55’49.06″N
    79°55’24.71″W

  58. Anthony says

    April 22, 2012 at 7:01 am

    I was looking at houses. Came across this plane in the yard… 😉
    No direct link to the map. Go to the link, scroll down to the map. click on “satellite”, then click on the “+” to zoom in… I love the rainbows coming off the plane, which looks like it’s parked in the backyard…

  59. Agpinzon says

    June 18, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    There is one plane in Bogotá Colombia
    4.71968,-74.07308

  60. Agpinzon says

    June 18, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    Another jet aproaching to el dorado at Bogotá
    4.79965,-74.29333

  61. Hans Timothy says

    October 5, 2012 at 2:48 am

    Well, Take a look at
    14.599531, 121.040783 (3/26/2007)
    40.771086, -74.005853 (4/30/2008)

  62. Hans Timothy says

    October 5, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    41.852011, -121.479389
    Mid air refueling with a C-5 and a KC-135R

  63. Denmla says

    December 6, 2012 at 4:07 am

    http://goo.gl/maps/6L0Vq

  64. Hans Timothy says

    December 6, 2012 at 6:33 am

    Excuse me, may i ask how did you do the ° thing? I cant find it in my keyboard?

    • Ila says

      June 18, 2013 at 5:19 am

      You can also see this: 44°22’08.95″ N, 9°02’49.85″ E
      Genova, Italia

      • hans timothy says

        September 17, 2013 at 6:20 am

        But who was the first who did the ° thing? In every keyboard there is no ° thing there?

  65. Tony Quinlan says

    October 17, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    I was looking for a street in North London and found this!

    http://www.bitcoinpunter.com/plane,jpg

    • Tony Quinlan says

      October 17, 2013 at 7:23 pm

      Whoops, put a comma in the url instead of a dot.

      http://www.bitcoinpunter.com/plane.jpg

  66. Arnaud says

    April 4, 2014 at 2:01 am

    Hi everyone,just found one near my place in the south of France !
    https://www.google.fr/maps/dir/43.9544234,5.0607091/43.9552035,5.0592861/@43.9544555,5.0615069,167m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0



PLEASE NOTE: Google Earth Blog is no longer writing regular posts. As a result, we are not accepting new comments or questions about Google Earth. If you have a question, use the official Google Earth and Maps Forums or the Google Earth Community Forums.

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