you, too, can build this esp32 plane tracker to keep an eye on the skies

At a glance:\n- ESP32‑S3 flight tracker pulls near‑real‑time aircraft data from the OpenSky Network API, polling every 120 s.\n- Dual‑screen display (TFT + OLED) and joystick/buttons give console‑style controls for selecting planes.\n- The project began as a module for a custom handheld game console and was later released as a standalone build on GitHub.\n\n## About the author\nSimon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014 and has used Windows machines since Windows 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go‑to technician for all computer issues, he discovered a passion for writing and began covering a wide range of tech topics. He has contributed to outlets such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier before finding a home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, and later moving to its sister site XDA to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics.\n\n## From handheld console to sky tracker\nThe ESP32‑S3 flight tracker was originally designed as a module for a custom handheld game console. The author, user emir173, posted images on the ESP32 subreddit and later released the code on GitHub, explaining that the device was extracted as a standalone project for anyone to build and enjoy. Because the hardware was intended for a handheld console, the design includes a joystick and a set of buttons, giving users a familiar console‑like interface for navigating the screen.\n\n## Technical overview\nA near‑real‑time, live flight tracker built for the ESP32‑S3, the project utilizes the OpenSky Network API to fetch live aircraft data, polling every 120 seconds. The data are rendered on a dual‑screen setup comprising a TFT display and an OLED display, taking advantage of the ESP32‑S3’s dual‑core architecture to keep the UI responsive while handling network requests. The project’s firmware is written in C++ using the Arduino core for ESP32, and the source code is openly available on GitHub under the MIT license.\n\n### Hardware components\n- ESP32‑S3 microcontroller\n- 4‑inch TFT LCD (SPI)\n- 128×64 OLED display (I²C)\n- 2‑axis joystick (analog)\n- 4‑button controller (digital)\n- 3.3 V power supply (USB‑C or battery)\n\n## Build and community\nThe build instructions are detailed on the GitHub repository, with schematic diagrams, PCB layout files, and a bill of materials. Users can assemble the board using a standard 2.54 mm pitch surface‑mount machine or by hand‑soldering the components. The community around the project is active on the ESP32 subreddit, where contributors share firmware tweaks, display customizations, and additional data sources. The project demonstrates how a hobbyist can turn a single‑board computer into a functional aviation monitoring tool, blending low‑power embedded design with real‑time data streaming.