diff --git a/assets/static/js/app.js b/assets/static/js/app.js
index 8134dd2..0d780fb 100644
--- a/assets/static/js/app.js
+++ b/assets/static/js/app.js
@@ -801,8 +801,7 @@ class SkyView {
                     if (!this.radar3d.aircraftMeshes.has(key)) {
                         // Create new aircraft mesh only if within range
                         if (withinRange) {
-                            const geometry = new THREE.ConeGeometry(0.5, 2, 6);
-                            const material = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({ color: 0x00ff00 });
+                            const { geometry, material } = this.create3DAircraftGeometry(aircraft);
                             const mesh = new THREE.Mesh(geometry, material);
                             this.radar3d.aircraftMeshes.set(key, mesh);
                             this.radar3d.scene.add(mesh);
@@ -838,10 +837,8 @@ class SkyView {
                         
                         mesh.position.set(x, y, z);
                         
-                        // Orient mesh based on track
-                        if (aircraft.Track !== undefined) {
-                            mesh.rotation.y = -aircraft.Track * Math.PI / 180;
-                        }
+                        // Update aircraft visual indicators (direction, climb/descent)
+                        this.update3DAircraftVisuals(mesh, aircraft);
                         
                         // Update trail if trails are enabled
                         if (this.radar3d.showTrails && aircraft.position_history) {
@@ -1056,11 +1053,15 @@ class SkyView {
         
         const icao = this.radar3d.selectedAircraft;
         
-        // Reset mesh appearance
+        // Reset mesh appearance to original aircraft color
         const mesh = this.radar3d.aircraftMeshes.get(icao);
-        if (mesh) {
-            mesh.material.color.setHex(0x00ff00); // Back to green
-            mesh.material.emissive.setHex(0x000000); // Remove glow
+        const aircraft = this.aircraftManager.aircraftData.get(icao);
+        if (mesh && aircraft) {
+            const visualType = this.getAircraftVisualType(aircraft);
+            const originalColor = this.getAircraftColor(aircraft, visualType);
+            mesh.material.color.setHex(originalColor);
+            mesh.material.emissive.setHex(originalColor);
+            mesh.material.emissiveIntensity = 0.1; // Restore original glow
         }
         
         // Reset label appearance
@@ -1184,6 +1185,160 @@ class SkyView {
             console.log(`3D trails ${this.radar3d.showTrails ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`);
         }
     }
+    
+    // Aircraft visual type determination based on category and other data
+    getAircraftVisualType(aircraft) {
+        const category = aircraft.Category || '';
+        
+        // Helicopter detection
+        if (category.toLowerCase().includes('helicopter') || 
+            category.toLowerCase().includes('rotorcraft')) {
+            return 'helicopter';
+        }
+        
+        // Weight-based categories
+        if (category.includes('Heavy')) return 'heavy';
+        if (category.includes('Medium')) return 'medium';  
+        if (category.includes('Light')) return 'light';
+        
+        // Size-based categories (fallback)
+        if (category.includes('Large')) return 'heavy';
+        if (category.includes('Small')) return 'light';
+        
+        // Default to medium commercial aircraft
+        return 'medium';
+    }
+    
+    // Get aircraft color based on type and status
+    getAircraftColor(aircraft, visualType) {
+        // Emergency override
+        if (aircraft.Emergency && aircraft.Emergency !== 'None') {
+            return 0xff0000; // Red for emergencies
+        }
+        
+        // Special squawk codes
+        if (aircraft.Squawk) {
+            if (aircraft.Squawk === '7500' || aircraft.Squawk === '7600' || aircraft.Squawk === '7700') {
+                return 0xff0000; // Red for emergency squawks
+            }
+        }
+        
+        // Type-based colors
+        switch (visualType) {
+            case 'helicopter':
+                return 0x00ffff; // Cyan for helicopters
+            case 'heavy':
+                return 0x0088ff; // Blue for heavy aircraft
+            case 'medium':
+                return 0x00ff00; // Green for medium aircraft (default)
+            case 'light':
+                return 0xffff00; // Yellow for light aircraft
+            default:
+                return 0x00ff00; // Default green
+        }
+    }
+    
+    // Create appropriate 3D geometry and material for aircraft type
+    create3DAircraftGeometry(aircraft) {
+        const visualType = this.getAircraftVisualType(aircraft);
+        const color = this.getAircraftColor(aircraft, visualType);
+        
+        let geometry, scale = 1;
+        
+        switch (visualType) {
+            case 'helicopter':
+                // Helicopter: Wider, flatter shape with rotor disk
+                geometry = new THREE.CylinderGeometry(0.8, 0.4, 0.6, 8);
+                scale = 1.0;
+                break;
+                
+            case 'heavy':
+                // Heavy aircraft: Large, wide fuselage
+                geometry = new THREE.CylinderGeometry(0.4, 0.8, 3.0, 8);
+                scale = 1.3;
+                break;
+                
+            case 'light':
+                // Light aircraft: Small, simple shape
+                geometry = new THREE.ConeGeometry(0.3, 1.5, 6);
+                scale = 0.7;
+                break;
+                
+            case 'medium':
+            default:
+                // Medium/default: Standard cone shape
+                geometry = new THREE.ConeGeometry(0.5, 2, 6);
+                scale = 1.0;
+                break;
+        }
+        
+        const material = new THREE.MeshLambertMaterial({ 
+            color: color,
+            emissive: color,
+            emissiveIntensity: 0.1
+        });
+        
+        // Scale geometry if needed
+        if (scale !== 1.0) {
+            geometry.scale(scale, scale, scale);
+        }
+        
+        return { geometry, material };
+    }
+    
+    // Update aircraft visual indicators (direction, climb/descent)
+    update3DAircraftVisuals(mesh, aircraft) {
+        // Set aircraft direction based on track
+        if (aircraft.Track !== undefined && aircraft.Track !== 0) {
+            mesh.rotation.y = -aircraft.Track * Math.PI / 180;
+        }
+        
+        // Add climb/descent indicator
+        this.update3DClimbDescentIndicator(mesh, aircraft);
+    }
+    
+    // Add or update climb/descent visual indicator
+    update3DClimbDescentIndicator(mesh, aircraft) {
+        const verticalRate = aircraft.VerticalRate || 0;
+        const threshold = 500; // feet per minute
+        
+        // Remove existing indicator
+        const existingIndicator = mesh.getObjectByName('climbIndicator');
+        if (existingIndicator) {
+            mesh.remove(existingIndicator);
+        }
+        
+        // Add new indicator if significant vertical movement
+        if (Math.abs(verticalRate) > threshold) {
+            let indicatorGeometry, indicatorMaterial;
+            
+            if (verticalRate > threshold) {
+                // Climbing - green upward arrow
+                indicatorGeometry = new THREE.ConeGeometry(0.2, 0.8, 4);
+                indicatorMaterial = new THREE.MeshBasicMaterial({ 
+                    color: 0x00ff00, 
+                    transparent: true, 
+                    opacity: 0.8 
+                });
+            } else if (verticalRate < -threshold) {
+                // Descending - red downward arrow
+                indicatorGeometry = new THREE.ConeGeometry(0.2, 0.8, 4);
+                indicatorMaterial = new THREE.MeshBasicMaterial({ 
+                    color: 0xff0000, 
+                    transparent: true, 
+                    opacity: 0.8 
+                });
+                indicatorGeometry.rotateX(Math.PI); // Flip for downward arrow
+            }
+            
+            if (indicatorGeometry && indicatorMaterial) {
+                const indicator = new THREE.Mesh(indicatorGeometry, indicatorMaterial);
+                indicator.name = 'climbIndicator';
+                indicator.position.set(0, 2, 0); // Position above aircraft
+                mesh.add(indicator);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 
     initialize3DControls() {
         // Enable and initialize the Reset View button