
Box the Wind
Competition ballooning, easier
About
This app provides hot air balloon pilots and chase crews with essential tools for competition flying. It offers offline maps, live tracking, task management, and real-time flight data, all designed to enhance performance and safety in the air.
What's New in Box the Wind
1.3
August 4, 2026
New in 1.3 • A tools menu — the wrench beside the gear holds the wind cone, task-to-task info, and the new measuring tool. • Measure — drag a green and a red circle on the map for the distance and bearing between them, snapping onto a task target when you drop one close. One button moves an individual launch point to the green circle. • Task-to-task info (T2T Info) — connector lines between your task targets, each leg labeled with distance and heading, chained from the launch point in task order. • Nudge a target — long-press the active task target and step or hold-jog it with cardinal arrows. Step size is in 4/4 counts (Settings → Targets). A target you didn't move skips the confirmation. • Two wind lines per target — set each bearing on a dial or to the exact degree; both draw dashed across the screen through the target, in their own colors. • A clearer wind-cone scale bar — every altitude number now sits on the bar: ticks, both cone edges, your current altitude, and the exact altitudes whose drift heads at the active target. • Wind model picker — HRRR (default), ECMWF, or GFS for the winds-aloft fetch (Settings → Winds Aloft). • HDG and STR on the glance strip — your track over ground, and the turn from that track onto the bearing, left or right. • The winds-aloft table now reads TOWARD, with a direction arrow and both AGL and MSL per level. • Crew driving directions — in crew mode, a car button opens driving directions to the active target in Apple Maps or Google Maps (Settings → Targets). • Clear Task List — wipe the flight title, tasks, and import URL in one confirmed tap. • Wind smoothing settings — level-flight filter, memory, and vertical smoothing for measured winds, on a new Wind Cone screen. • Send a GPX straight to Box the Wind — share a flight track from another app and pick Box the Wind. It's added to Recordings and you're offered a replay on the spot. • Practice drops moved to the tools menu, and their 2D/3D separation altitude to Settings → Targets, which is now its own screen. • The active target now shows a mark even before there's a balloon position, so the crew can see the selected target while waiting for the pilot to go live.
MoreFAQ
Does Box the Wind have ads?
No, Box the Wind is completely ad-free. The developers have stated there are no advertisements within the application, ensuring an uninterrupted user experience.
What devices is Box the Wind available on?
Box the Wind is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed to work on these Apple platforms.
How often is Box the Wind updated?
Box the Wind was last updated on June 25, 2026, with version 1.1. This indicates recent development and support for the application.
What is the age rating for Box the Wind?
Box the Wind has an age rating of 12+. This suggests the content is generally suitable for users aged 12 and older.
Can I use Box the Wind offline?
Yes, Box the Wind features offline maps that can be downloaded for your contest region ahead of time. These maps render fully offline, allowing use even without a signal.
How does Box the Wind handle user location data?
User location is used solely to show, record, and share the balloon's position when chosen. The app explicitly states 'No tracking' and that location data is not used for other purposes.
What competition conventions does Box the Wind follow?
Box the Wind adheres to BFA/FAI AX competition conventions. This includes using UTM 4/4 grid coordinates, standard task types, and considering minimum marking altitudes.
What are the key features for competition flying in Box the Wind?
Key features include importing and editing competition tasks, declaring goals with live preview, and real-time drift and approach calculations. It also provides wind guidance based on forecasts or entered levels.
