FlightRadar24

Being grounded is the worst feeling ever for an aviation enthusiast. There is just something that connects us to the sky and being separated from our home, the sky, is such a drag. For some, flying is not possible all the time. Have you ever just looked up at an airplane and wondered where it is going? As an aviation enthusiast and an aspiring pilot, I have pondered this questions on multiple occasions.

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This brings me to the wonderful app called FlightRadar24. This is a comprehensive flight tracking app that allows the user to find flights across the globe. I love this app because I can see flights via the FAA N number. This allows users to track flights all across the globe.

The app provides a very user friendly way to view each flight flying across the world. This photo is a snapshot of the air traffic over France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, United Kingdom, etc.

Touching each of the individual yellow planes that shows up on the screens brings up more information for the flight. This example above is a Cargolux flight from Luxembourg to Indianapolis. The 747-4R7(F) departed approximately 7 hours and 54 minutes ago. The estimated time of arrival is in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. I also find it interesting to explore each flight based on this data given. The calibrated altitude is the equivalent to how high the plane is above sea level. CV7725 has a calibrated altitude of 40,000 feet. Another thing I enjoy exploring is the ground speed, which for this flight it is about 488 miles per hour. Each of these flights holds different speeds, data, and altitudes.

There is a setting within the app that allows you to see the airlines of each of the planes without clicking on the flight. Being able to see the different airlines across the world is very interesting. It displays the companies logos, so aviation enthusiasts can memorize each logo and associate it with airlines. This app is a great way to memorize aviation related content such as: liveries, types of planes, and aviation terminology

Another great aspect of this app is the fact that they provide satellite images. Satellite imagery provides a better understanding of the airports and the surrounding areas. I love being able to compare the different runways and their numbers. Allowing for a better visual experience, these allow us to see air traffic at a new perspective.

FlightRadar24 also provides a nice layout of a departure and arrival board at each airport. This is the departure and arrival board for Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) on January 28, 2022. The feature mentioned is not just for aviation enthusiasts themselves, but this is a great feature for travelers. Travelers can track flights to get a better understanding of their traveling schedule. The yellow rectangle that says 'live' means that the plane is currently in the air and on its way to the destination. I have to admit that I love to see what flights are coming in and out of my local airport.

Here are just a few more amazing features of this app:
Runway length and number of runways
IATA and IACAO codes
Temperature near the airport
What the weather conditions look like
Type of runway
How many departures go out of that specific airport
How many countries are served out of that airport
The most often used route to and from that airport
Runway heading numbers
Photos of the airport

Each plane usually (not all the time) has a nice photo to go with it. I have been able to see that I can memorize the different liveries, models, and types of planes just by using the FlightRadar24 app. I love the photos for that very reason: the fact that they allow enthusiasts alike to view planes.

Whether or not you are an aviation enthusiast or a travel guru, this app can be very useful. There is something very satisfying about being able to know where that plane over your head is going. This app opens up a new realm, a new understanding, and an amazing view of our world; the world of aviation.