Flight Radar 24 For IPhone

[campbeme]

What a clever little app, Ive been using the Flight Radar 24 web site for awhile now on my desktop. Today I found the IPhone app and downloaded it, this is the amazing part when you point the camera at a contrail overhead.....my god it tells you what aircraft it is and all it's flight data.

Very cool and happy spotter today.

Mark

[delbydoo]

I am waiting until the 13th Feb and then I can upgrade my phone - and it was this app that convinced me to go android when FR24 released it, anyways - who uses a phone for SPEAKING to people these days? Samsung Galaxy SII here we come

[Greg]

A couple of colleagues have it. They used to look at the radar screen where traffic was situated around our base, point their iPhone in that direction and compare the flight data with the actual FPL in our system. Nerds...

[DaleRFU]

A couple of colleagues have it. They used to look at the radar screen where traffic was situated around our base, point their iPhone in that direction and compare the flight data with the actual FPL in our system. Nerds...

Did it work?

[Greg]

Yes it did. It's quite scary how accurate the data is too. But the app doesn't show everything up there and no OAT flights, so we could never see our own military traffic with it.

[Firebird]

Probably just as well, Greg. Makes it slightly easier for airfield defences if you know exactly where the attackers are.

[Greg]

Yes of course, I would be very worried if they showed on FR24.

But it's an indication that there's a lot more traffic up there than you see with the app in case people wonder if what they see is more or less representative.

[campbeme]

The app works by collecting data received from SBS Sqauwk boxes if your plan is fitted with one it will find you. Most modern day airliners have them except CRJ and older Emb jets. Not sure if Canadian Air Force know but it always finds there A310's, in fact a couple of months ago I spotted one using the app with two little friends tucked in close to him.

Just to give you an idea of its range, this morning is an ideal day very cold and very blue. I'm 4 miles from Birmingham airport and I'm watching trans Atlantic arrivals comming in across Cardiff some 60 miles away. I can see the contrails and the iPhone using its gyroscope and squawk data knows which plane is which.

Very cool

Mark

[aljude]

On my PC I use " http://planefinder.net/ " to keep an eye on whats over the top...

[Greg]

The app works by collecting data received from SBS Sqauwk boxes if your plan is fitted with one it will find you.

I think you mean ADS-B then, because a SBS is a ground station able to receive ADS-B signals. Just a technicality.

But in that case, it is indeed possible to see military traffic, if it is a civvie type of aircraft equipped with an ADS-B transponder.

[Jumpshot724]

I hope they make a USA one lol

[james84]

Hmmm... my brother has got an Olipad (an iPad made by Olivetti)... do you knwo if it works with this device as well?

[Victory103]

I hope they make a USA one lol

Just wonder if this does come stateside how it will work within the FAA's BARR program. If a company does all the paperwork to block their N# from online flight tracking sites, is this app restricted as well.

[campbeme]

Well yesterday I saw routing out over Hereford England to the US, a USAF 757 squawking out its full serial 99-6143. I had time to watch it approach my viewing window, go outside and then view it.

Mark

[Jumpshot724]

I found "PlaneFinder" amd "PlaneFinder AR" (Alternante Reality) which seems to be the same thing and works pretty well. I live on Long Island in New York and I can see a lot of traffic from JFK Intl as well as passers through. According to the developers the ADS-B feeds that they use to track the aircraft and steadily showing up more in the US so, I imagine in a few years time the my little radar screen will light up a lot more. But for now, i'd say it's worthwhile. As of right now I can see 5 aircraft in my 50mile area.