You can create a DIY flight tracker using a $5 microchip that shows real-time aircraft data on a small screen. Best of all, you can set it up straight from your web browser without needing to code.
This project, featured by XDA Developers, revolves around the ESP32, a compact and affordable Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller that’s a favorite among electronics enthusiasts. The finished tracker fetches live flight information and reveals what planes are flying overhead, including their flight numbers, altitudes, and directions.
How It Works
The tracker relies on ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast), a system where commercial aircraft continuously transmit their position, speed, altitude, and identity. If you’ve used apps like Flightradar24, you’re already picking up this data. This project lets you build a dedicated display for it instead.
The installation process is what makes this project unique. Typically, loading software onto an ESP32 involves installing development tools, writing or copying code, and using a command-line interface (a text-based window for typing commands). Here, you skip all that. Just plug the device into your computer via USB, open a compatible web browser like Chrome, and flash the firmware directly from a webpage. The entire setup takes just a few minutes.
Your device will connect to your home Wi-Fi, grab flight data from an online source, and show it on a small attached screen. Think of it as a personal air traffic display for your desk — like a simplified version you’d see at an airport but built by you for the price of a cup of coffee.
Who Is This Actually For?
This project is tailored for the maker community, which includes folks who love building small electronics projects. The browser-based installer makes it accessible to more people. You won’t need to know Python, C++, or anything about compilers (software that translates code into a format a chip can run).
If you’re near an airport or under a busy flight path, this project’s appeal is clear. You can easily check the display and learn exactly what that loud aircraft overhead is, where it came from, and where it’s headed. Aviation buffs, parents with curious kids, or anyone who frequently checks Flightradar24 will find this particularly interesting.
The hardware is budget-friendly. ESP32 boards are available from electronics suppliers for just a few dollars, and small OLED or LCD display screens add only a bit more. The total cost usually comes to under $20, depending on what you already have.
What This Means
Browser-based flashing tools are quietly transforming what’s possible for non-technical users in the maker space. Just a year ago, building something like this would have required a whole afternoon of troubleshooting driver installations and configuration files. Now, it’s almost as simple as setting up a new Bluetooth speaker.
This project exemplifies what some call “open data.” This concept suggests that useful information, like aircraft positions broadcast publicly by regulation, can be repurposed into new tools by anyone curious enough to try. While airlines and aviation authorities don’t provide a flight-tracking display for your desk, the raw data to create one has always been around you.
For many users, this specific project may not be a must-have. Still, it highlights how quickly the gap is closing between “I saw a cool gadget” and “I built a cool gadget.”
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Core hardware | ESP32 microcontroller |
| Estimated build cost | Under $20 |
| Installation method | Browser-based (USB flash) |
| Data source | ADS-B aircraft broadcasts |
| Coding required | None |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
Community Reactions
“This is exactly the kind of project that got me into electronics. You get a useful thing AND you learn something. The browser flashing is a game changer for beginners.”
— u/solderhead_99, Reddit (r/esp32)
“Ordered the parts immediately. I live two miles from a regional airport and I’m constantly on Flightradar anyway. Having a physical display is just cooler.”
— YouTube commenter on XDA Developers video coverage
Further Reading
What To Watch
- The maker community often forks and enhances projects like this quickly. Expect variations with larger screens, local data reception (using a separate ADS-B radio antenna instead of pulling from the internet), and 3D printed cases to appear within weeks.
- Browser-based flashing tools like ESP Web Tools are being adopted for more ESP32 and ESP8266 projects. Watch for this installation method to become the standard for beginner-friendly builds in 2026.
- If you want to try this yourself, the ESP32 supply chain has been stable through mid-2026, with boards readily available from suppliers like Adafruit, SparkFun, and AliExpress.
Daniel Park
Daniel Park covers AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software for Explosion.com. A former software engineer who transitioned to technology journalism 5 years ago, Daniel brings technical depth to his reporting on artificial intelligence, startup funding rounds, and the companies building the future of computing. He breaks down complex AI developments and business strategies into clear, actionable insights for readers who want to understand how technology is reshaping industries.
