Real-time flights display. No login or account required. Easy configuration through the web interface.
Display flights in your area and display them on the screen of the ESP32 TTGO-Display or LilyGo-T-Display-S3 module. Under the hood it uses the API of FlightRadar24.com but only for flight updates. Internally there is a database with airport, aircraft and airline data with graphics to minimize the requests.
This application retrieves the current flights near a configured location and displays them sequentially on the display.
Example of layout on LilyGo-T-Display-S3
- History
- Features
- Prerequisites
- Getting Started
- Project structure
- Status overview
- Configuration
- Case / Enclosure
- Suggestions
- Credits
| Aug 25 2026 | Fixed display issues with updating, new logo, removed scrollbar |
| Jan 10 2026 | Optimized data tables |
| Jan 4 2026 | Created build / release script |
| Oct 21 2023 | Added configuration from LilyGo-T-Display-S3 with help from ulihuber |
| Oct 25 2022 | Use LVGL for graphics |
| Oct 15 2022 | Filtering for airborne/grounded/gliders/vehicles |
| Oct 14 2022 | Added vertical speed |
| Oct 2 2022 | Bootstrap for HTML overview |
| Jun 16 2022 | Wifi manager for configuration |
| Jun 15 2022 | Use time zones |
| Apr 27 2022 | Import aircraft types |
| Dec 5 2021 | Compressing of RGB565 |
| Nov 21 2021 | Import airlines from Wiki page |
| Nov 8 2021 | New airline logos |
| Oct 31 2021 | Added heading, altitude and speed |
| Oct 6 2021 | Move images from SPIFF to code |
| May 25 2021 | GUI update |
| Dec 26 2019 | Initial version: The "birth" of the project |
The FlightRadar firmware offers the following features:
- Lookup of airplane type and specifics (manufacturer, type, description, engine type and count)
- Lookup of carrier and (if available) display the logo
- Display GPS location, registration, altitude, heading, speed and vertical speed of the airplane
- Lookup of the full name for the from- and to airports name and region, lat/lon
- Lookup and display flag for the countries
- No account required, only WiFi with internet connection!
- Minimal interaction with FlightRadar24; database and graphics are present in firmware
- Configuration using a Web interface
- HTML status screen
- Stay in AP mode at reset (Resetting + pressing top button)
- Hardware: ESP32 TTGO-Display or LilyGo-T-Display-S3
- Software: Visual Studio Code with the PlatformIO extension
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/rzeldent/esp32-flightradar24-ttgo.git - Open the folder in VS Code with the PlatformIO extension installed
- Build the firmware:
pio run - Flash to the device:
pio run -t upload - Watch the serial output:
pio run -t monitor - Erase the flash for a full reset (also clears the configuration):
pio run -t erase
On first boot, connect to the WiFi access point FlightRadar and configure your network credentials.
After configuration the device starts updating the flights in the configured area.
src/– firmware source (main.cpp, flights, airlines, airports, countries)include/– generated headers and lookup tables (aircraft, airline logos, country flags, images, settings)html/– embedded web configuration pageassets/– screenshots used in this READMEgenerate_images.ps1/generate_images.sh/images_to_lvgl.py– logo, flag and image generation pipeline
When connected to the FlightRadar, the main screen is shown; the overview.
Here details about the device, network and settings are shown.
The configuration can be changed using a web browser. Connecting to the flight radar can be done in two ways:
- During startup, connect to the access point
FlightRadarand log in. In case the browser does not open the page immediately, the url is http://192.168.4.1. - Find the internal IP address of the FlightRadar (from your home router) and enter the url.
- When the password is lost, a fix is to completely erase the ESP32 using the
pio run -t erasecommand. This will reset the device including configuration. If using the esptool, you can do this usingesptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash. However, after erasing, reflashing of the firmware is required.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| WIFI SSID / password | Credentials for changing the configuration |
| SSID / password (network) | Network to connect to for internet access |
| Latitude / longitude | Position (decimal format) to observe |
| Range (lat / lon) | Area to observe, in degrees |
| Include airborne | Filter: show airborne flights |
| Include grounded | Filter: show grounded flights |
| Include gliders | Filter: show gliders |
| Include vehicles | Filter: show vehicles on the ground |
| Timezone | Time zone for time and date display |
| Metric units | Use metric or imperial units |
- Sometimes after configuration a reboot is required. If the error screen is shown that it is unable to make a connection, first try to reboot the device,
- When booting, the device waits 30 seconds for a connection. Make a connection to the SSID indicated on the screen using the AP password,
- When connected, go to the ip of the device and, when prompted for the credentials, enter 'admin' and the AP password. This field is required before saving the credentials,
- When the password is lost, holding the top button while booting will clear the configuration.
- When finished disconnect from the wireless network. This should reset the flight radar. Resetting is also a good alternative...
Please take a look at the STL file to create a case for the FlightRadar to host the TTGO-Display and a battery. Thanks to Erwin Reid for creating the models.
Files can be found at Thingiverse.
Another option is from LilyGo (AliExpress). With a little modification, the "LILYGO® T-Display Shell ABS Accessories For T-Display T-PicoC3 T-Display RP2040" can be adapted by removing the stands in the case.
These can be ordered at https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004507656890.html
Suggestions especially to faulty or missing logos, airlines etc are welcome. Please make a Pull request and, after verification, this will be added to the main version.
Thanks to FlightRadar24.com to be able to hook into their API.