Euro Flight details

You can have your own home system running if you get hold of an
SBS-2 system made by Kinetics Avionics. Just string the aerial up,
roof level ideal, and watch all the aircraft movement over most of the
UK. You set up a scope on your computer screen that looks just like the
one they have in Air Traffic Control (ATC), plug the SBS in, run the program
and off you go...it looks the real McCoy. Unlike Casperflights 15 minutes
delay, SBS runs with only a two minute delay. The system uses the data
coming from each aircraft's transponder and with a UHF receiver you can,
when set to the appropriate channel, listen in on communications too.
I have the SBS-1 system, have not run it for the past couple of years
but it really is the perfect big-boys toy. Occasionally normally late
evening when the traffic volume drops off you can hear some good banter
between the captains and ATC controllers, but you need a receiver for this.
I still have memories of one event several years ago between London ATC
and the female pilot of an Easy Jet aircraft. She called into ATC as
Easy Jet XXXX ATC controller called her back as Easy XXXX, she came back again
in a lush voice, "Sir, are you saying I'm easy"..I just had to laugh!!!

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The Kite Fliers

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Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Euro Flight details

I've been using flightradar24.com, for more than a year now, since there is a flight that I track for work purposes every week.

There are other similar flight trackers out there too, all free and without any fees at all.

The good thing about SBS is that it's a stand-alone system that does not
require an internet connection. Providing you have the aircraft's flight number
you can use this to locate the aircraft with on your screen. The system can
track aircraft as long as it can pick-up the aircrafts transponder signal.
I have managed to keep track of aircraft going as far as Belgium but a lot
depends on the height you set your aerial up to. For greater distance coverage
then the internet based systems are the only option and very good for the job too. SBS is a one-off cost system, once you've bought it then that's it. Ebay
usually have some, brand new or secondhand, up for grabs.

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The Kite Fliers

--------------------
Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.