How are your
flights tracked?
Every verified flight in THGF starts with a real IGC log from the in-sim variometer. Real weather, real tracks, real pilots — here's exactly how it all works.
What is an IGC log?
An IGC file is the global standard for recording GPS flight logs — the same format used by real-world glider pilots in competitions worldwide. It captures your exact flight path as a timestamped sequence of GPS coordinates: latitude, longitude, and altitude, recorded every few seconds from launch to landing.
The THGF variometer records an IGC file automatically for every flight — you don't need to start it, configure it, or even use it as a variometer. It's running in the background the moment you launch. When you land, your flight log is already waiting for you.
Three ways to upload
Sign in and go to Community → Flights. Drop your IGC file directly into the upload area. Only files recorded by the THGF variometer are accepted — files from other sources will be rejected automatically.
The THGF desktop app can find your IGC files on disk and upload them in a few clicks. Useful if you prefer to manage your flights from outside the sim.
The in-sim Electronic Flight Bag can upload your flight automatically after landing, without leaving the simulator. Enable this in EFB settings and your log goes straight to the site the moment your flight ends.
Website membership required · Opt-in only
Flight logging is available to registered members of thehangglidingfiles.com only. It is strictly opt-in — your flights are never uploaded or shared without your explicit action or prior consent through the EFB auto-upload setting. You are always in control of what goes on the leaderboard.
Your flights deserve a logbook.
Microsoft Flight Simulator has no idea you flew today. Its internal flight logging only fires when you take off from a paved runway and land at an airport — which is not something hang gliders ever do. No touch-and-go credits. No flight hours. No record that any of it happened. As far as the sim is concerned, you were never there.
Every IGC file you upload to THGF goes into your personal flight logbook — a complete history of your hang gliding simulation career. Every site you've launched from. Every kilometre covered. Every personal best. Dates, tracks, conditions. All of it organised, searchable, and permanently yours.
Your logbook is private by default — visible only to you. If you want a flight to appear on the community feed or count toward the records leaderboard, you make that call. Nothing goes public without your say-so.
Another reason to become a known member of this community.
Anonymous flights can't be logged, can't set records, and can't be part of group flights or competitions. Your callsign is your identity in this sim — claim it, and every flight you ever make counts.
Content coming — how the variometer records your flight as an IGC log file.
Content coming — how to upload your flight log from the EFB or desktop app.
Content coming — how real-weather attestation works and what qualifies a flight.
Content coming — how flights are scored against records and community statistics.
Why real weather only?
Preset weather in Microsoft Flight Simulator can be dialled in to produce perfect lift conditions on demand — unlimited thermals, no sink, ideal winds. That makes for a great training session but a meaningless record. Anyone could set up a tailwind and fly three hundred kilometres in a straight line.
Real weather uses Microsoft's live historical data — the actual atmospheric conditions recorded over the last 24 hours at any point on the globe. You can pick any time and place, but you fly what was actually there. The thermals, the wind, the sink — all of it is as close to real as a simulator can get.
The THGF variometer detects whether real weather is active and embeds that attestation directly into your IGC file. If it wasn't active when you flew, the file won't pass verification — no exceptions. This is what keeps the leaderboard honest.
What qualifies as a valid flight?
Every submitted flight is checked against the following rules automatically. Flights that pass all checks are marked verified and become eligible for records.
The IGC file must have been produced by the THGF variometer. Files from other sources — real-world loggers, third-party apps — are rejected at upload. The A-record signature is checked on every file.
Real weather must have been active for the entire flight. Preset weather, custom weather, or any non-live weather setting disqualifies the flight regardless of how impressive the numbers are.
The flight must contain a complete B-record GPS track from launch to landing. Corrupted files, zero-point tracks, or suspiciously teleported coordinates won't pass.
Your callsign must be set in your account and linked to your flight. Anonymous flights cannot be verified or attributed to a pilot on the leaderboard.
Group flights & competitions
Flight logging isn't just for solo records. THGF has two organised flying formats — group flights for social flying and competitions for scored events.
A group flight is a scheduled session where pilots agree to meet at a specific site, at a specific sim date and time — which means everyone is flying the same real historical weather. You coordinate in real time, launch together, and your individual IGC logs are all tied to the same session.
- ✓Organised by glider category
- ✓Any member can join a scheduled session
- ✓Patreon members can create group flights
- ✓Your flight still logs to the leaderboard
Competitions are multi-day scored events with declared tasks — a specific route or goal that all pilots attempt under the same conditions. Flights are scored by distance, duration, altitude gain, or a combination. The pilot with the best verified score wins.
- ✓Declared tasks with scored objectives
- ✓Any signed-in member can enter
- ✓Paid Patreon members can create competitions
- ✓Real weather required for all entries
Upload your first flight
Have an IGC file from the THGF variometer? Drop it into the community flights page and your flight will be automatically verified and scored against the leaderboard.