WhatPlane QuizCheck direction
Match the aircraft's compass direction with the part of the sky you are facing. Its displayed track shows where it is heading.
Put aircraft recognition into practice
Live Aircraft Spotting Practice Near Me
Take your recognition skills outside. Find aircraft near you, make a guess before revealing the flight, then compare the reported type with its visual clues. Location centres the live search; it is not published as a sighting.
Start live spotting practice →Practise in your browser
Want an iPhone Home Screen widget? Explore the What Plane? overhead tracker app.
✈You
How to approach it
Three useful clues
Use altitude
A high cruising aircraft may be visible as a small silhouette or contrail. Lower arrivals and departures reveal more livery and shape detail.
Confirm the type
Open the aircraft card for its reported type, then verify it yourself using engine count, wing shape, tail and proportions.
Quick answers
About this activity
How does the nearby-plane finder work?
It uses your device location to request live aircraft around you, then displays reported flight and aircraft information on a map.
Is every visible aircraft guaranteed to appear?
No. Coverage and aircraft data depend on the available tracking feed, equipment and reception, so some flights may be delayed, incomplete or absent.
Ready?
Turn the clues into recall.
Practise with real aircraft references and immediate explanations.