Australia Day Flyover Imagery in Google Maps

[Update: View the locations in Google Earth with this KML file ]

As promised, Google has released the imagery it had taken during Australia Day at the end of January. There were some complications with the flight plan which prevented the plane from being where planned during the day. But, the pilot still flew along several beaches and some of the planned locations at later times during the day. The imagery has been added to Google Maps, but Google Earth doesn’t have the update yet (don’t worry, I’ll let you know when it’s in Google Earth). Some of the new imagery is as high as about 3 inches/pixel. Clear enough to make out clothing on people, but not clear enough to see who they are. Here are the locations of some of the imagery in Google Maps:

• Queenscliff Bay
• Shark Bay
• Bondi Beach
• Manly Beach
• Luna Park
• North Bondi
• Helicopter in flight
• Tall Ship
• Fort Denison
• Circular Quay

For another special event aerial photo, see the photos I took from my plane which Google arranged to put in Google Earth on the same day (taken during X Prize Cup 2006). The photos are now part of GE’s base imagery. You’ll see the copyright is “Gearthblog.com” at the bottom of the screen when you follow the link .

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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