Software tools or addons come and go, but in the flight sim space I’ve been using one program extensively over the years and always wondered: Why the heck would someone give away an application like this for free and as open source, which has so many features and offers unending value to so many people out there. I think the developer could have made a ton of money with it, even if he only charged 10 dollars per license. I and probably many other people would have paid gladly, after having seen what LNM can do for us. In a time where our society slowly disintegrates, thanks to the final stages of unchecked capitalism, it takes a special person with a much underappreciated generosity to keep going with a project like Little Navmap for such a long time. And this guy’s name is Alex Barthel. So thank you Alex.
For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about here, lets break down what Little Navmap can actually do (the name’s kinda misleading, considering the massive feature set).
Flight‑Planning
- Automatic Route Calculation: Plan IFR flights with SIDs, STARs, airways and customizable user waypoints very quickly.
- Fuel & Performance Planning: Generate fuel requirements, endurance, and weight-and-balance reports based on real aircraft performance data.
- Airport Search & Information: Browse runways, frequencies, procedures and airport diagrams drawn from a built‑in Navigraph cycle database.
Real‑Time Moving Map & Live Tracking
- Interactive 2D/3D Map: Watch your aircraft move in real time over high‑resolution charts, complete with elevation profiles and sun‑shadow effects.
- Weather Overlays: Display METARs, TAFs and radar imagery directly on the map for dynamic weather planning.
- Customizable Display Options: Tweak range rings, measurement lines, highlights, compass roses and map labels to suit your workflow.
Simulator Integration & Multi‑Platform Support
- Wide Sim Coverage: Connects seamlessly to FSX, Prepar3D v4–v6, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 & 2024, X‑Plane 11 & 12.
- Cross‑OS Compatibility: Native builds for Windows 7/8/10/11, macOS 10.13+ and 64‑bit Linux.
- Add‑On Data Integration: Automatically loads stock and add‑on airports in minutes—and supports Navigraph FMS Data Manager for up‑to‑date navdata (subscription required).
Open‑Source Philosophy & Community
- GPL v3+ License: View, fork or contribute to the code on GitHub—no paywalls, no ads, no tracking.
- Active Maintenance: Regular updates, detailed user manual, multilingual translations and a friendly support forum ensure you’re never flying blind.
Taking and giving
After thousands of hours of simulated IFR and VFR flights, Little Navmap has become my go-to companion app for all the flight sims I’ve been using over the years. Its interface may feel a bit “retro,” but in the end it all just works, excellently.
To make one thing clear: I don’t know Alex personally, I’ve never even communicated with him (until today, when he sent a personal thankyou-email after I donated) and I have no affiliation whatsoever. I just love his LNM project. That’s why I’m writing about it.
If you can afford it, please give a little something. Even one single EUR or USD shows your appreciation, which this project totally deserves. And if you don’t have any money to spare, write a little email or a post on the AVSIM forums to say thanks.