Simulation excerpts from 6 September 00:24 to 7 September 12:24 UT with a spacing of 12 h between each image. In the top row the flux rope associated with the X9.3 flare is bisected by a plane of the current density (pink to green), while the bottom row has this removed to provide an unobstructed view. The field lines are coloured as in Fig. 8, serving only to distinguish the bundles of lines and the different lines within each bundle. The flux rope reaches a peak height of approximately 150 Mm.