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Flight Tracking

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Bazile | 18:33 Thu 26th May 2016 | Travel
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I'm interested in most things to do with civilian planes . airports

I read somewhere that there are apps that you can get on your mobile , where you can point your phone at an airplane in the sky and get details about it

Anyone on here use any particular apps , to do with flight tracking

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PS:
The app that your post refers to seems to only be available for iPadsand iPhones
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/plane-finder-ar/id390039844?mt=8
and is far from perfect
https://www.tnooz.com/article/point-a-phone-in-the-air-and-get-details-on-every-aircraft-in-the-sky/
Question Author
Thanks
Actually, such devices and programs will only work or aircraft that are transponder equipped. A transponder is a device required by air traffic control if the aircraft is operating in "controlled" airspace. At least here in the U.S., there are huge tracts of airspace that aren't "controlled", so aircraft (usually small, general aviation types) are required by regulations to have one.

Early on, back in the 1960's the devices were large, heavy and were only used by military and shortly thereafter, transport aircraft... today they look like this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pictures+of+aircraft+transponders&biw=1438&bih=899&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&;sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwii4fqZl_rMAhUBRFIKHalcD3QQsAQIGw

Even transponders are being phased out, though, in favor of "ADS B"... which is "...Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) is a precise satellite-based surveillance system. ADS-B Out uses GPS technology to determine an aircraft's location, airspeed and other data, and broadcasts that information to a network of ground stations, which relays the data to air traffic control displays and to nearby aircraft equipped to receive the data via ADS-B In. Operators of aircraft equipped with ADS-B In can receive weather and traffic position information delivered directly to the cockpit..." Aircraft so equipped can "talk" to one another automatically thereby enhancing collision avoidance... which is a good thing.
^^ "... aren't required to have one...
>>> Actually, such devices and programs will only work or aircraft that are transponder equipped.

The app that Bazile referred to in his question actually only works with ADS-B systems. (See my second link, above)
I use this on my desktop, although I am not sure if it has a Mobile phone version ::::


https://www.flightradar24.com/51.44,-3.18/8
I have flightradar24 on my iPhone Mikey. I live under the flight paths for N America and Southern Europe. Spain, Portugal, Balearics etc, and use it often.

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