News from Wingman, the Paragliding Tracker for iOS & Apple Watch — v5 is in the pipe, here's what v4.9 already offers
TL;DR: Wingman, my free flight tracker for iPhone & Apple Watch, is now at v4.9 — it connects to external Bluetooth devices (XC Tracer, Syride, Stodeus, ...), uploads straight to XContest & DHV-XC with FAI-approved IGC files, replays your flights in full-screen 3D, and comes with an incredible standalone Watch app. v5 is in the pipe. 6+ years of work, no AI slop. → Wingman on the App Store
🪂 Dear fellow paragliders 🪂,
Preface
Wingman is not another AI slop. The app is more than 6 years old now, and I've always focused on quality and reliability rather than shipping fast. A friend recently joined me on the project — we keep control of the codebase, and we work hard to make Wingman what it is today, and what it will be tomorrow.
A year ago I posted here about Wingman 3.8, and the feedback from this community was amazing — thank you! Since then we've kept working hard on it, one update at a time. Wingman is now at v4.9, v5 is in the pipe, and I thought it was a good moment to share where things stand.
Link to the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1563883190
What's new since my last post
-- Flight instruments
- A sharper variometer: The built-in vario reacts faster and more smoothly to every climb and dive. With haptic feedback on the Watch when you climb.
- Connect external Bluetooth devices: If for some reason the powerful vario and the flight instruments embedded in Wingman are not enough for you, you can connect XC Tracer, Syride and Stodeus (UltraBip / BlueBip) devices, and record your flights using the device's sensors.
- Wind estimation improved: The algorithm is more accurate, and there's a new, fully customizable wind instrument.
- Customizable units: Every flight instrument can now be configured individually with its own units.
- Landscape mode lock: When flying, you can now lock your screen in landscape mode — even by default for every flight.
-- Flightbook & analysis
- 3D Playback, fully reworked: Play back your flights on a beautiful full-screen 3D map, with playback controls and a progressive mode where the track draws itself as you watch.
- XContest & DHV-XC upload: Upload your flights directly from Wingman, automatically or manually. IGC files are digitally signed and officially approved by the FAI/CIVL, so your claims are accepted.
- Flightbook improvements: Group your flights by year or month with statistics for each period, recover recently deleted flights, export your whole flightbook, and customize its units.
- Flight sharing: New card designs for sharing your flights on social media, including a transparent overlay format.
-- And also
- New design: The whole app has been redesigned with iOS 26 Liquid Glass.
- Waypoints for XC: Waypoints can now be configured as a cylinder or a line, with specific crossing rules.
- Apple Watch, optimized: The Watch app runs leaner so it goes the distance on your longest flights, and the vario haptic feedback is stronger on your wrist.
And of course, there is still
- Airspace alerts for safety
- Take-off detection (tracking starts automatically) and landing detection (never forget to stop recording)
- Thermal Viewer: see where you gained altitude to easily find thermals
- Wingman LIVE: share your live position with friends or family via a web link
- 3rd party live tracking: PureTrack, FFVL VLSafe
- Fly with friends: see your friends on the map when flying, and compare stats with them
- Dashboard with instruments (vario, ground speed, altitude, wind direction & speed estimation, …)
- Logbook with detailed data, lifetime stats, interactive charts, sync across devices, secure online backup
- GPX & IGC import/export
Also on Apple Watch
- All of this works standalone on your Apple Watch: leave your phone at home, record your flights, enjoy the vario with sound and haptic feedback on your wrist.
- No need for an expensive Apple Watch Ultra (even though they are amazing) — the recent Apple Watch Series work great.
What's coming in v5
- I can't say too much yet, but v5 is well underway and we're really excited about it. I'm sure many of you will love it.
- As always, it's shaped by the feedback you keep sending me — thank you for helping make the app better!
Feedback is much appreciated, this is how I improve the app over time! Please just be nice, we're doing our best on this project :-)
Fly safe! 🪂