Converting PlaneFinder.net Tracks to Google Earth KML

Mick West

Administrator
Staff member
Planefinder.net is very useful in that it has archives going back several years. I recently wrote a converter that lets you extract the track of a plane and view it in Google Earth with the correct timestamps and altitudes - similar to FlightAware's downloads.

To do this you need to extract the "payload" for the track. This is what PF sends to your web browser when it displays the track in the map. It requires a little trickery.

In Google Chrome, you will need to open the Developer Tools
20170108-144543-9kw4o.jpg

Select "Network" and "XHR", type "position" in the search box
20170108-145146-k15kj.jpg


Then click on the plane you want, then look in the debugger for the planeposition packet (you might want to clear it first, to make sure you get the right one.

Then Right Click on it. and "Copy -> Copy Response"
20170108-145325-lozap.jpg

That will give you something like:
Code:
{"success":true,"payload":[["-22.91547","-47.42418","19500","292","1483915889"],["-22.91837","-47.43271","19625","292","1483915883"],["-22.92083","-47.43988","19750","292","1483915879"],["-22.92395","-47.44919","19925","290","1483915871"],["-22.92604","-47.45554","20000","292","1483915868"],["-22.92963","-47.47289","20100","289","1483915854"],["-22.92961","-47.47897","20125","288","1483915850"],["-22.92833","-47.48835","20175","287","1483915844"],["-22.92581","-47.49984","20225","288","1483915835"],["-22.92446","-47.50575","20275","288","1483915832"],["-22.92395","-47.50798","20275","289","1483915829"],["-22.92093","-47.52157","20350","290","1483915820"],["-22.92023","-47.52466","20375","291","1483915818"],["-22.91748","-47.53683","20450","291","1483915810"],["-22.91666","-47.54054","20475","290","1483915807"],["-22.91413","-47.55157","20525","290","1483915799"],["-22.91318","-47.55577","20550","290","1483915796"],["-22.91054","-47.56739","20625","291","1483915788"],["-22.90966","-47.57136","20650","291","1483915785"],["-22.90682","-47.58413","20725","292","1483915777"],["-22.90617","-47.58698","20750","292","1483915774"],["-22.90263","-47.60264","20925","293","1483915763"],["-22.89949","-47.61664","21125","293","1483915754"],["-22.89914","-47.61805","21150","293","1483915752"],["-22.89569","-47.63322","21400","293","1483915741"],["-22.89505","-47.63607","21450","293","1483915739"],["-22.89207","-47.64920","21650","294","1483915731"],["-22.89052","-47.65604","21750","293","1483915725"],["-22.88837","-47.66578","21900","293","1483915720"],["-22.88717","-47.67125","21975","293","1483915715"],["-22.88462","-47.68270","22150","295","1483915707"],["-22.88324","-47.68875","22225","296","1483915703"],["-22.88077","-47.69974","22375","297","1483915696"],["-22.88013","-47.70264","22400","298","1483915693"],["-22.87721","-47.71571","22575","300","1483915685"],["-22.87651","-47.71866","22600","300","1483915682"],["-22.87262","-47.73604","22800","305","1483915670"],["-22.86969","-47.74913","22950","307","1483915662"],["-22.86851","-47.75426","22975","309","1483915658"],["-22.86465","-47.77100","23050","317","1483915647"],["-22.86154","-47.78408","23100","325","1483915640"],["-22.86041","-47.78880","23125","327","1483915636"],["-22.85752","-47.80090","23175","332","1483915629"],["-22.85580","-47.80802","23200","335","1483915623"],["-22.85289","-47.82014","23275","340","1483915617"],["-22.85142","-47.82639","23300","343","1483915612"],["-22.84868","-47.83817","23350","349","1483915605"],["-22.84634","-47.84840","23375","353","1483915599"],["-22.84415","-47.85879","23450","358","1483915594"],["-22.84268","-47.86733","23500","362","1483915589"],["-22.84117","-47.87817","23550","370","1483915584"],["-22.83957","-47.88766","23550","372","1483915577"],["-22.83632","-47.90069","23600","378","1483915570"],["-22.83350","-47.90802","23650","379","1483915566"],["-22.82112","-47.92653","23875","382","1483915555"],["-22.82065","-47.92709","23900","383","1483915553"],["-22.81120","-47.93645","24100","384","1483915546"],["-22.80850","-47.93894","24175","384","1483915544"],["-22.79860","-47.94838","24400","386","1483915538"],["-22.79320","-47.95347","24525","386","1483915533"],["-22.78155","-47.96448","24775","389","1483915525"],["-22.77745","-47.96836","24875","390","1483915521"],["-22.76623","-47.97887","25125","391","1483915514"],["-22.76266","-47.98224","25200","392","1483915510"],["-22.75194","-47.99225","25425","394","1483915503"],["-22.74724","-47.99667","25550","394","1483915499"],["-22.73583","-48.00725","25825","396","1483915492"],["-22.73081","-48.01193","25925","396","1483915488"],["-22.72050","-48.02159","26175","399","1483915481"],["-22.71242","-48.02918","26375","399","1483915474"],["-22.70265","-48.03842","26600","401","1483915468"],["-22.69647","-48.04426","26750","401","1483915463"],["-22.68924","-48.05120","26950","401","1483915459"],["-22.68114","-48.05888","27175","401","1483915452"],["-22.67299","-48.06658","27400","401","1483915446"],["-22.66600","-48.07317","27600","401","1483915441"],["-22.65027","-48.08797","28050","401","1483915430"],["-22.63527","-48.10199","28250","408","1483915419"],["-22.61894","-48.11706","28875","402","1483915408"],["-22.60043","-48.13390","29400","403","1483915395"],["-22.58308","-48.14943","29625","409","1483915383"],["-22.56759","-48.16355","29825","416","1483915372"],["-22.55113","-48.17949","30100","422","1483915361"],["-22.53754","-48.19822","30425","429","1483915350"],["-22.52728","-48.22254","30850","436","1483915337"],["-22.52321","-48.24391","31200","439","1483915327"],["-22.52389","-48.27477","31725","445","1483915313"],["-22.52531","-48.28626","31900","447","1483915309"],["-22.52649","-48.29554","32075","448","1483915304"],["-22.52957","-48.31992","32500","450","1483915293"],["-22.53319","-48.34808","32950","453","1483915280"],["-22.53608","-48.37046","33525","449","1483915270"],["-22.53941","-48.39647","34375","442","1483915259"],["-22.54264","-48.42128","34875","439","1483915247"],["-22.54604","-48.44381","35000","440","1483915237"],["-22.55149","-48.46954","35000","441","1483915225"],["-22.55800","-48.49320","35000","442","1483915214"],["-22.56482","-48.51727","35000","441","1483915202"],["-22.57233","-48.54339","35000","441","1483915190"],["-22.57895","-48.56659","35000","442","1483915179"],["-22.58593","-48.59110","35000","442","1483915167"],["-22.59338","-48.61730","35000","443","1483915155"],["-22.60009","-48.64105","35000","443","1483915144"],["-22.60643","-48.66349","35000","443","1483915133"],["-22.61403","-48.69061","35000","442","1483915120"],["-22.62085","-48.71513","35000","441","1483915108"],["-22.62802","-48.74085","35000","439","1483915096"],["-22.63444","-48.76353","35000","440","1483915086"],["-22.64214","-48.79083","35000","439","1483915072"],["-22.64854","-48.81355","35000","440","1483915062"],["-22.66270","-48.86363","35000","440","1483915038"],["-22.67415","-48.90406","35000","440","1483915019"],["-22.67867","-48.92003","35000","440","1483915011"],["-22.68220","-48.93270","35000","440","1483915005"],["-22.68851","-48.95503","35000","440","1483914994"],["-22.69533","-48.97950","35000","440","1483914983"],["-22.70123","-49.00062","35000","441","1483914973"],["-22.70810","-49.02514","35000","441","1483914961"],["-22.71492","-49.04966","35000","442","1483914950"],["-22.72187","-49.07466","35000","442","1483914938"],["-22.72934","-49.10140","35000","443","1483914925"],["-22.73984","-49.13915","35000","443","1483914908"],["-22.74683","-49.16427","35000","444","1483914896"],["-22.75329","-49.18767","35000","444","1483914885"],["-22.75967","-49.21071","35000","445","1483914874"],["-22.76669","-49.23588","35000","446","1483914862"],["-22.77365","-49.26065","35000","446","1483914851"],["-22.78043","-49.28497","35000","446","1483914839"],["-22.78755","-49.31066","35000","447","1483914827"],["-22.79463","-49.33640","35000","447","1483914815"],["-22.80161","-49.36127","35000","448","1483914804"],["-22.82009","-49.42759","35000","450","1483914773"],["-22.82286","-49.43748","34975","450","1483914768"],["-22.82731","-49.45348","34975","451","1483914761"],["-22.83485","-49.48072","35000","451","1483914748"],["-22.83932","-49.49671","35000","452","1483914741"],["-22.84076","-49.50195","35000","452","1483914738"],["-22.84497","-49.51708","35000","452","1483914731"],["-22.84798","-49.52789","35000","451","1483914726"],["-22.85142","-49.54045","35000","451","1483914721"],["-22.85262","-49.54479","35000","451","1483914718"],["-22.85477","-49.55259","35025","451","1483914715"],["-22.85783","-49.56387","35025","451","1483914710"],["-22.85953","-49.56996","35025","451","1483914707"],["-22.86106","-49.57560","35000","451","1483914704"],["-22.86418","-49.58684","35000","451","1483914699"],["-22.86763","-49.59943","34950","451","1483914693"],["-22.87074","-49.61066","34850","450","1483914688"],["-22.87419","-49.62321","34675","451","1483914682"],["-22.87766","-49.63578","34525","451","1483914676"],["-22.88089","-49.64747","34375","451","1483914671"],["-22.88378","-49.65790","34250","452","1483914666"],["-22.88685","-49.66919","34100","452","1483914661"],["-22.88806","-49.67351","34025","452","1483914659"],["-22.89006","-49.68088","33925","452","1483914656"],["-22.89495","-49.69874","33675","453","1483914647"],["-22.89686","-49.70566","33600","453","1483914644"],["-22.90155","-49.72267","33350","453","1483914637"],["-22.90356","-49.73007","33250","453","1483914633"],["-22.90846","-49.74794","33000","454","1483914625"],["-22.90980","-49.75276","32950","454","1483914623"],["-22.91506","-49.77193","32675","454","1483914614"],["-22.91627","-49.77631","32600","454","1483914612"],["-22.92188","-49.79688","32300","456","1483914603"],["-22.92274","-49.79996","32250","456","1483914601"],["-22.92865","-49.82140","31925","457","1483914591"],["-22.93007","-49.82669","31850","457","1483914589"],["-22.93550","-49.84650","31525","458","1483914580"],["-22.93877","-49.85835","31325","458","1483914575"],["-22.94266","-49.87249","31100","460","1483914568"],["-22.94408","-49.87778","31000","461","1483914566"],["-22.94909","-49.89599","30700","462","1483914557"],["-22.95575","-49.92043","30300","465","1483914547"],["-22.96262","-49.94545","30000","464","1483914535"],["-22.96944","-49.97031","29725","461","1483914524"],["-22.97644","-49.99598","29425","459","1483914512"],["-22.98317","-50.02070","29150","456","1483914501"],["-22.98866","-50.04083","28925","454","1483914492"],["-22.98985","-50.04522","28875","453","1483914490"],["-22.99541","-50.06561","28625","451","1483914481"],["-22.99634","-50.06912","28600","450","1483914479"],["-23.00151","-50.08809","28375","447","1483914470"],["-23.00326","-50.09456","28300","447","1483914467"],["-23.00793","-50.11169","28075","445","1483914459"],["-23.00965","-50.11810","27975","443","1483914456"],["-23.01398","-50.13391","27750","443","1483914449"],["-23.01604","-50.14155","27650","442","1483914445"],["-23.02031","-50.15727","27400","440","1483914438"],["-23.02259","-50.16576","27275","440","1483914434"],["-23.02697","-50.18189","27025","439","1483914426"],["-23.02913","-50.18989","26900","439","1483914423"],["-23.03375","-50.20682","26625","438","1483914415"],["-23.03544","-50.21311","26525","437","1483914412"],["-23.03959","-50.22827","26275","437","1483914404"],["-23.04233","-50.23839","26125","436","1483914400"],["-23.04848","-50.26108","25725","435","1483914389"],["-23.05118","-50.27115","25550","435","1483914384"],["-23.05495","-50.28497","25325","435","1483914377"],["-23.05732","-50.29373","25175","434","1483914373"],["-23.06126","-50.30839","24900","434","1483914366"],["-23.06342","-50.31637","24750","434","1483914362"],["-23.06771","-50.33223","24475","433","1483914355"],["-23.06964","-50.33931","24350","433","1483914351"],["-23.07413","-50.35598","24075","432","1483914343"],["-23.07562","-50.36138","23975","431","1483914341"],["-23.08055","-50.37964","23650","430","1483914332"],["-23.08177","-50.38415","23575","429","1483914330"],["-23.08667","-50.40233","23225","428","1483914321"],["-23.08781","-50.40647","23150","428","1483914319"],["-23.09303","-50.42577","22825","425","1483914310"],["-23.09381","-50.42864","22775","425","1483914308"],["-23.09995","-50.45147","22375","421","1483914297"],["-23.10608","-50.47414","21975","417","1483914286"],["-23.11148","-50.49421","21575","416","1483914276"],["-23.11752","-50.51658","21150","413","1483914265"],["-23.11803","-50.51859","21125","413","1483914264"],["-23.12366","-50.53961","20775","408","1483914253"],["-23.12956","-50.56153","20350","404","1483914242"],["-23.13478","-50.58091","19950","400","1483914232"],["-23.13548","-50.58360","19875","399","1483914230"],["-23.14032","-50.60168","19475","397","1483914221"],["-23.14137","-50.60552","19400","397","1483914219"],["-23.14591","-50.62271","19025","394","1483914210"],["-23.14694","-50.62653","18925","394","1483914208"],["-23.15141","-50.64321","18550","391","1483914199"],["-23.15268","-50.64807","18450","390","1483914197"],["-23.15671","-50.66315","18100","389","1483914188"],["-23.15826","-50.66915","17975","388","1483914185"],["-23.16193","-50.68293","17700","384","1483914178"],["-23.16380","-50.68997","17525","382","1483914174"],["-23.16723","-50.70287","17225","380","1483914167"],["-23.16914","-50.71019","17025","379","1483914163"],["-23.17300","-50.72448","16675","377","1483914155"],["-23.17502","-50.73092","16500","377","1483914152"],["-23.17934","-50.74331","16150","375","1483914145"],["-23.18335","-50.75334","15850","373","1483914139"],["-23.18701","-50.76143","15625","373","1483914134"],["-23.19181","-50.77092","15375","370","1483914128"],["-23.19610","-50.77855","15150","367","1483914124"],["-23.20569","-50.79499","14725","360","1483914113"],["-23.21635","-50.81327","14175","355","1483914101"],["-23.22656","-50.83059","13800","347","1483914089"],["-23.23655","-50.84742","13600","327","1483914078"],["-23.24363","-50.85932","13425","311","1483914069"],["-23.25179","-50.87314","12975","304","1483914058"],["-23.25998","-50.88707","12225","307","1483914047"],["-23.26831","-50.90116","11475","309","1483914037"],["-23.27696","-50.91579","10850","304","1483914025"],["-23.28496","-50.92941","10225","300","1483914015"],["-23.35625","-51.06001","4450","183","1483913909"],["-23.34460","-51.09873","3225","181","1483913875"],["-23.33913","-51.11394","2375","165","1483913851"],["-23.33702","-51.12018","2050","164","1483913844"]]}

Go to:
https://www.metabunk.org/PF/

And paste it into the top box

20170108-145537-8wjhj.jpg
The bottom box will give you a preview of the KML file. You can just ignore this.

Click on "Download KML", and open in Google Earth

Current problems are that it does not interpolate well where ADS-B coverage is weak, so goes below the surface of the Earth.
 
Last edited:
It looks like Planefinder has changed the details of how flight paths are requested and returned, and are now encrypting/obfuscating the flight path response.

When I click on an aircraft, it makes a request to


For example:


The response comes back as binary. Here's a hexdump of an example response:

00000000: 0801 12c2 ba1f 08c3 87c3 aec2 8cc3 a605 ................
00000010: 121c 09c3 837f c2ba c281 020f 4140 1170 ............A@.p
00000020: 067f c2bf c298 795d c380 18c3 8413 205e ......y]...... ^
00000030: 28c2 bf01 3012 1c09 0263 7d03 c293 0f41 (...0....c}....A
00000040: 4011 c28b c3a1 c3aa c288 795d c380 18c3 @.........y]....
00000050: 8413 205e 28c3 a001 3004 121c 09c3 a542 .. ^(...0......B
00000060: c3a5 5fc3 8b0f 4140 11c3 aa78 c38c 4065 .._...A@...x..@e
00000070: 795d c380 18c3 8413 205d 28c3 af01 300f y]...... ](...0.


(As an example of when and how planefinder has previously tried to obfuscate their data, see https://github.com/wiseman/node-planefinder/issues/4)
 
It looks like Planefinder has changed the details of how flight paths are requested and returned, and are now encrypting/obfuscating the flight path response.
You can see it unencrypted if you put a breakpoint in the updateFlightPath function
Metabunk 2019-04-26 13-01-44.jpg

Add a watch to JSON.stringify(s) to get it in JSON, which you can then use as above ( I just tried it, it works).

Of course that only works if you click on the plane, but their data isn't mean to be a free-for-all.
 
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