Beautiful. Instant. Overhead.

How Does What Plane? Work?

What Plane? uses ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) data from the global receiver network to detect aircraft within 30 nautical miles of your location. The app calculates 3D distance — combining horizontal distance and altitude — to find the truly closest aircraft, not just the one that appears nearest on a flat map.

When you hear a plane overhead, glance at your Home Screen widget to see:

• Aircraft type and model — e.g., Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737-800
• Airline and operator — with airline-specific aircraft liveries
• Flight number and callsign — the ICAO identifier used by air traffic control
• Altitude and speed — real-time barometric altitude and ground speed
• Distance and direction — how far away and which compass bearing
• Origin and destination — where the flight came from and where it's heading

The Compass Ring feature on the widget border shows the aircraft's bearing relative to your position, so you can look up and know exactly which direction to face. For aviation enthusiasts and casual observers alike, What Plane? transforms every overhead flight into an instant identification experience.

What Plane? vs. Flightradar24

Flightradar24 is the world's most popular global flight tracker, designed for monitoring flights worldwide on an interactive map. What Plane? serves a different purpose: instant overhead identification. Instead of opening an app and searching a map, What Plane? shows the nearest aircraft on your Home Screen widget — updated continuously — so you can identify planes in seconds without unlocking your phone or navigating a complex interface.

Think of Flightradar24 as your global flight dashboard and What Plane? as your personal aircraft identifier. They complement each other, but for the "what's that plane?" moment, What Plane? is purpose-built to be the fastest option.

Who Is What Plane? For?

Aviation enthusiasts who want to identify aircraft types, spot rare liveries, and track unusual flights without fumbling through a map-based app.

Curious observers who hear a plane overhead and want to know what it is in under 10 seconds — before it disappears from view.

Plane spotters at airports, along flight paths, or near military bases who need fast, reliable aircraft identification at a glance.

Parents and educators who want to turn everyday aircraft sounds into learning moments about aviation, geography, and technology.