bomberflight wrote:
Last year I had an idea about developing an application that would allow people to track warbirds using the mode S transponder codes. ( Which is how Planefiner can show you which airliner is flying over your head ) Technically it's possible but ~ warbirds don't tend to spend that long in the air on each flight so ..... what's the point of the "app"?
You don't see a point of the app? I see points. Let me try some out on you.
Program the app with a database of active warbirds. It wouldn't need to be a big database, just of the few hundred warbirds anyone cares about. Offer to update it periodically (revenue stream). The device pings you when one of them is in the air. Cool, Glacier Girl's flying! Or it can tell you what flew and where over the past few days, or what's the last known location. Helpful for spotters and for those wondering what is traveling to their local airshow this weekend.
Use the geolocator function to ping the user when there's a warbird movement within 50 or 100 miles. The user could access flight plan data either through the app or separately on flightaware to find out where it's come from and where it's going. Ooh, there's a B-25 inbound to my local airport, maybe I'll run out there and try to catch it.
Good idea for an app I think. I'd buy it.
August