This ESP32 device automatically tells you about every plane that flies over your head

Credit: Internal-Chard-8406 Published Sep 21, 2026, 1:26 AM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary This ESP32-powered display auto-notifies when planes fly overhead with simple, colorful, kid-friendly info. It checks an API every 30s to show origin, destination, aircraft type, altitude, and speed. The deliberately simple, colorful UI appeals to kids and older viewers. We've covered our fair share of homemade airplane trackers on XDA, and while they're all fantastic, they tend to be aimed at aviation enthusiasts. Sometimes, though, you don't need all the data; you just want to know what cool plane is flying over your head at that very moment. This ESP32 project does just that by keeping an eye on the sky and automatically informing you whenever a plane flies by. This ESP32 flight tracker cuts the complexity and automatically lets you know what's nearby No need to mess with dials or data On the ESP32 subreddit, Internal-Chard-8406 posted a video of their project. It runs off a Waveshare ESP32-S3 board alongside a 7-inch touchscreen, and pulls flight data over an API every 30 seconds. Unlike other flight trackers, this one keeps things clean and simple; it keeps an eye out for planes going overhead and tells you all about it as it goes by. Aviation enthusiasts may find it a little basic, but it's like that by design: "Some time ago I came across a few live flight tracker displays and really liked the idea. Most of them seemed to be aimed more at airplane enthusiasts though and I wanted to make something that would also be interesting for kids, or people who simply wonder where the plane above their house is going. So I built my own version - it shows the aircraft flying nearby, where it comes from and where it is heading, together with some details like operator, aircraft type, altitude and speed. I tried to keep it simple and make the visuals a bit more colourful and friendly." Honestly, being a novice at aviation myself, this project would be ideal for me. It also pleased Internal-Chard-8406's 70-year-old dad, who reportedly watched the screen with anticipation for the next train, so really it's a project for all ages. The creator didn't upload the source code, but they are feeling out the idea of selling these as pre-built units, so be sure to check out their Reddit thread if you want one.