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XCSoar 7.45 released
(15. Aug 2026 by folken)

XCSoar 7.45 is out.

This is a large release, with new weather overlays, live NOTAMs, better tools for moving data and flight logs, improved Condor 3 support, multi-touch map controls, and OpenGL builds for Windows.

Downloads

Updates in the app stores may take a little longer to appear.

Weather

SkySight, EDL, and XC Therm can now be shown directly on map pages.

They use the same basic controls as RASP: choose a layer and forecast time for each page, then adjust them from the cursor bar at the bottom of the map. Forecasts can update automatically, and selected forecast data can be downloaded before a flight.

RASP now supports contour lines, transparency, a colour scale, and values at the cursor. flugwetter.de has additional radar and lightning images.

On Windows, these overlays require one of the new OpenGL builds.

NOTAMs

XCSoar can download NOTAMs and display them with the other airspaces on the map. Downloads are cached and refreshed in the background.

Filters are available for time, distance, IFR-only NOTAMs, and Q-codes. Tapping a NOTAM airspace opens its text.

NOTAM support is disabled by default. It is intended as an additional source of situational awareness and does not replace a proper pre-flight briefing.

Data Management

The new Data Management screen brings together Site Files, the Download Manager, flight export, data import, backups, and a file explorer.

You can:

  • import waypoints, airspaces, terrain, profiles, and other files from a USB stick or folder;
  • export IGC and NMEA flight logs to external storage;
  • upload selected IGC files to WeGlide;
  • create and restore dated backups of your settings and site files;
  • copy, move, rename, and delete files.

Backups leave out logs, other backup archives, and cached downloads. XCSoar must be restarted after restoring one.

XCSoar now keeps files in folders according to their type. Existing files are moved on the first start after upgrading where possible.

Map and flight calculations

Android and iOS now support pinch-to-zoom, two-finger panning, and map rotation.

Other map changes include distance rings, larger map text, more visible waypoints, a smoother snail trail, and an optional turn-back marker showing how far along track the active waypoint can still be reached.

The glide polar now accounts for air density at altitude. This affects speed-to-fly, task and final-glide calculations, netto vario, and the speed-to-fly arrows.

Alternates can follow XCSoar’s calculated list or be selected manually. Up to ten alternatives are shown, with airfields listed before outlanding sites.

OGN and SkyLines traffic now use the same map and radar display as FLARM traffic.

Condor 3 and devices

Support for the Condor 3 simulator has been improved with two new drivers.

The UDP telemetry driver receives airspeed, altitude, vario, AHRS and gyro data, G-load, MacCready, water ballast, and radio frequency.

The Spectate driver reads Condor’s Spectate.json file and shows multiplayer traffic on the map and FLARM radar.

Other device changes include GDL 90 ADS-B input, an LX Navigation LX160 driver, LX Eos declaration and logger support, additional BlueFly functions, $LK8EX1 support on every port, and eight device slots.

User interface

This release includes a broad set of touch, keyboard, and e-paper fixes. Lists and configuration dialogs are easier to navigate without a touchscreen, waypoint searches stay open while viewing details, and long translated text wraps correctly.

The Quick Guide, checklists, Credits, and configuration pages can be changed with a horizontal swipe. E-paper scrolling now avoids unnecessary animation, and several InfoBox, focus, layout, and dialog crashes have been fixed.

Platforms

Windows users should now use the OpenGL builds. They use the same accelerated graphics path as Android, Linux, and macOS and support features such as transparent weather and airspace overlays.

Installers and portable zip files are available for both 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The old PC and WIN64 single-file binaries are deprecated and will be removed in a later release.

Linux, OpenVario, and Kobo now have WiFi configuration under Config → Setup → Network.

Kobo starts in light mode because dark mode is not suitable for its e-paper display.

On iOS, the audio vario can play through the speaker and the built-in GPS continues reporting while stationary. A macOS rendering problem with thick lines has also been fixed.

Thanks

Uwe Augustin began the SkySight work in OpenSoar. Stefan Schumann, with Caz Yokoyama, ported it to XCSoar and developed much of its map and forecast integration. Matthew Scutter helped with the SkySight API and caching.

Benjamin Girard added EDL. Philip Heinrich developed the XC Therm integration, including its in-flight cursor controls.

Simon GH worked on RASP rendering and brought the OpenGL graphics backend, packaging, and installer to Windows. Yorick Reum developed the NOTAM support and contributed substantial iOS and macOS work.

Stefan Schumann also developed Data Management, the Linux/OpenVario/Kobo network panel, and the internal speed-to-fly audio vario.

Bapt A., Joe Capra, and Eric Carden worked on alternates and waypoint InfoBoxes. Dominic Spreitz added the density-scaled polar. Davis Chappins and Wolfgang Drescher developed the turn-back marker and distance rings.

Thanks also to Rik Vanden Boer, Jiri Maier, Christian Grøvdal, Linar Yusupov, Igor Nazarenko, Josef Klein, Helmut J. Rohs, Thomas Maier, Chris Woolley, Roland Niederhagen, Mirek Burdych, si.gr, DanD222, bennsch, and everyone who tested 7.45 and reported problems.

— Philipp Wollschlegel

more…

XCSoar 7.44 released
(22. Mar 2026 by folken)

XCSoar 7.44 is available.

This release reflects two years of development, with major usability upgrades, broad modernization, and a long list of bug fixes across platforms.

Major contributors

Selected examples of major contributions in this release:

  • Stefan Schumann (Scumi): FLARM and PowerFLARM management/traffic improvements, FLARM messaging database integration, and many UI and device updates
  • Yorick Reum: responsible for the iOS port, plus major Apple-platform work (iOS/macOS packaging, signing, CI/TestFlight, and platform support updates)
  • kobedegeest: LXNAV Nano download robustness improvements and multiple in-flight UI/InfoBox interaction refinements
  • Andres Totorica: PEV timing improvements and workflow updates around contest/task handling and Android bundle builds
  • Uwe Augustin (August2111): wide-ranging UTF-8 and string-handling modernization (TCHAR/UNICODE cleanup and related platform updates)
  • Wolfgang Drescher: onboarding dialogs and first-use guidance improvements
  • Andreas Lüthi: waypoint details image panning/key controls and FLARM gauge behavior improvements
  • Roland Niederhagen (bomilkar): new circling wind algorithm
  • Miroslav Burdych (Sundown3867): iconography refresh, icon streamlining, and visual polish updates
  • Driver contributions: Jiri Maier (LX Eos/Era driver and download/declaration support), Josef Klein (Stratux driver and follow-up work), kobedegeest (LXNAV Nano download robustness), Simsys (Larus protocol 0.1.4), and Chris Woolley (flight list ordering improvements)
  • Special thanks to Urban Mäder of FLARM for a loaner device, and to Uroš of LXNAV for sharing protocol documentation.

Thanks also to all other contributors to XCSoar 7.44: Alex Collignon, Ballfire, Benjamin Girard, bennsch, Caz Yokoyama, Cedric Guenther, DanD222, Davis Chappins, drflyby, Eric Carden, Frederik Junker, groundhogxc, Helmut J. Rohs, Jaap Keuter, Jan Liska, Jetsada Machom, Joerg Schuon, Lasse Edslev, Linar Yusupov, Moritz Finke, Simon GH, Silverio Santos, Tobias Bieniek, Tobias Schulte, and Vesko.

UI overhaul

  • Major refresh of menus and dialogs for faster, clearer in-flight use
  • Onboarding dialogs now guide first-time setup and key permissions
  • Revamped Quick Menu plus a new onboarding/quick-guide flow
  • Gesture Help window with an in-app gesture reference
  • Improved touch handling with better tap-vs-drag detection and smoother scrolling
  • Better InfoBox and radar/thermal assistant placement to reduce map overlap
  • InfoBoxes are now tabbable for quicker in-flight access
  • Richer dialogs with integrated help, Markdown text, and clickable links
  • Checklists now support Markdown (including links and checkboxes); see the online guide
  • Smart checklist links support tel:, sms:, mailto:, geo:, and web links
  • More logical keyboard layout and navigation flow
  • Dark mode across core screens and widgets

Input and quick actions

Android

  • Android edge-to-edge support and related UI handling improvements
  • Android SDK 35 compatibility updates
  • Rotation suggestion marker/button for easier landscape/portrait switching
  • Rotation fixes, including black-screen and projection issues

FLARM

  • Expanded configuration management for FLARM and PowerFLARM devices
  • Improved FLARM traffic details with clearer source/context information
  • PFLAM protocol support (FLARM message database), including pilot, registration, callsign, aircraft type, and frequency data
  • FLARM error messages are now parsed and shown
  • Improved task declaration handling, including fixes for FLARM declarations via connected variometer pass-through

New drivers

LXNAV

Major LXNAV integration overhaul and protocol 1.05 support

  • Better synchronization of plane data, weight-related settings, and polar data with supported variometers (V7/S-series)
  • Improved task declaration handling, including AAT/MAT minimum task time (TaskTime)
  • Improved flight download handling, including LXNAV Nano devices
  • Radio and transponder support via LXNAV data exchange integration
  • Automatic plane profile matching and creation from device-provided glider identification data

Contests

  • Contest scoring updates to current rulesets, including full DMSt scoring support and WeGlide scoring fixes
  • PEV start timing now has second-level accuracy

WeGlide

  • Corrected WeGlide scoring formulas
  • Direct IGC upload action from the configuration menu
  • Daily competition task panel and recent task scores view

Data and reliability

  • New terrain ramps, including options for very flat regions
  • CUPX file format support, including embedded images (definition: Naviter SeeYou file formats)
  • Landing field data source: landewiesen.streckenflug.at
  • OpenAir 2.0 support, including station names and squawk code handling (definition: OpenAir specification reference)
  • Waypoint editor fixes now prevent lost altitude/type edits
  • Removed old waypoint editor text truncation limits
  • Home waypoint reliability fix on restart (terrain-load timing issue)
  • CUP writer update to Naviter 2022 spec to reduce data loss when saving waypoint details and attachments

New wind algorithm

  • New circling wind algorithm for better quality and accuracy
  • Better handling of sub-second GPS updates during circling analysis

Calculations and InfoBoxes

  • Improved ballast handling: now stored in liters for better device sync and corrected dump-rate calculation
  • Many new glider polars plus updates to existing polar data
  • New InfoBoxes: Home AltD, Alternate 1 AltD, Alternate 2 AltD, V task leg, and headwind component

And there is a lot more already in the pipeline for upcoming releases.

– Philipp Wollschlegel (aka LordFolken), 22 March 2026, on behalf of the XCSoar Team

more…

XCSoar 7.43 released
( 2. Sep 2024 by folken)

Please note that there are several CRITICAL issues addressed in this release. Please up-/sidegrade.

Android users: Due to new cryptographic signatures, you will need to uninstall and remove all data. Install either from F-Droid or via APK File download. Please also note that the Storage Directory has moved to /android/media/org.xcsoar. This directory is accessible with normal file manager tools on android.

Version 7.43 - 2024-08-12

  • calculations
    • CRITICAL: reachable map labels show correct altitude with head wind #1424
    • CRITICAL: fix reachability calculation with older compilers (OpenVario,..)
  • airspace
    • add classes according the OpenAir extended format AY tag
    • coloring is done according to the AC tag, or if present and allowed, according to the AY tag
  • data files
    • new topology available from mapgen (including airport runways and rivers)
    • fix loss of “home” waypoint designation in certain situations for a non-airport home waypoint
    • reworked sgs-233 polar
  • documentation
    • clarify task speed calculation section
    • lua reference updated
  • ui
    • Airspace filter list can filter by type
    • TC 30s Infobox shows now climb rate since start of thermal
    • TL Gain Infobox shows now the overall climb rate of last thermal
    • add new Infobox V Task Est (Speed task estimated)
    • Status-Task panel: “Estimated task time”, “Remaining time”, and “Speed estimated” now blank if MC>0 & can’t finish task
    • Status-Task panel: “Remaining time”, “Remaining distance”, “Speed estimated”, and “Speed remaining” now blank after task is finished
    • add missing airspace to Select Airspace filter
    • NumberEntry dialog value can now be accepted by enter
    • Vario center gross label
    • Vario use AutoFonts for lables and values
    • Replace eventOrientation by two new events: eventOrientationCruise and eventOrientationCircling
    • New artificial horizon
    • Flarm gauge fix radar size
    • infobox management page rename buttons for copying sets
    • consistent naming of ok/close buttons and placement
    • add PanTo button to waypoints dialog if opened from task related infoboxen
    • always show black plane icon in thermal assistant
  • Lua scripting
    • allow HTTPs client connections by setting project-wide Curl options
    • fix next_eta and final_eta variables
  • Devices
    • add Larus driver
  • Android
    • CRITICAL: use user accessible android/media/org.xcsoar as data directory
    • EGL graphics driver initialzation improvment for old android versions
    • add SoftRF Eco, Ink and Card into ‘white list’ of USB devices
    • fix rotation on wake from background
  • Kobo
    • fix Wifi configuration
    • fix oversized icons
  • Windows
    • use cleartype font rendering
    • highres application icon
    • black text color in airspace list like all other systems

more…

XCSoar 7.40 released
( 2. Dec 2023 by folken)

Version 7.40 - 2023/11/02

  • user interface
    • Added infobox that combines ETA with AAT dT
    • FLARM: Add 100m zoom option.
    • hide mouse cursor after 10 seconds of inactivity
    • Move glider icon on thermal assist according to 30s average.
  • Linux
    • fix the /etc/xcsoar data directory
  • Android
    • raise targetSdkVersion to 33

more…

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