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March is an important month at FlightAware, and this one is especially big! We're celebrating the 1st birthday of our newest FlightFeeder, Pi Day, and within just a few days FlightAware’s 20th anniversary! It’s the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come… from our early beginnings to shaping the future of airspace intelligence, we couldn’t have done it without you.
To celebrate, we’re kicking off a special 20th Anniversary Sale in our ADS-B store and taking a look back at the history of our FlightFeeder technology.
Featured Host of the Month
Our featured host this month is leliep who is located near Düsseldorf International Airport. They joined the network in February 2023 and has maintained a hardware uptime streak ever since (the device has not gone offline for longer than 24 hours). This host proves that indoor antennas – along with combining your hobbies – can make for a great tracker!
This compact all-in-one receiver uses a DIY indoor antenna and 3d printed parts to regularly track over 2,000 planes daily.
DIY ground plane antenna.
Fantastic quality 3d prints in addition to a well-designed receiver.
Thank you for sharing and for continuing to be an ADS-B host!
Would you like to be featured as our host of the month?
FlightFeeder History
March 2025 marks 20 years since the start of FlightAware and 17 years since our very first FlightFeeder. The first prototype was deployed in 2008, followed by Version 2 which saw just four units deployed between 2009 and 2011. Unlike modern FlightFeeders which are compact and optimized for easy setup, the original models were experimental and often required manual tuning and troubleshooting to function.
As the network grew, FlightAware refined the FlightFeeder design to improve accessibility and performance. By the mid-2010s, the hardware had evolved into a more standardized unit featuring improved ADS-B reception and streamlined software. This allowed for broader global deployment and made it possible for individuals worldwide to contribute valuable flight-tracking data. This expansion helped fill critical gaps in coverage, especially in remote regions.
Today, FlightFeeder technology continues to advance with Version 11 of our hardware first shipping on Pi Day in 2024. The dedication of everyone hosting FlightFeeders and PiAware devices has played a key role in shaping the FlightAware network, proving that aviation enthusiasts and technology can come together to create something truly groundbreaking.
The FlightFeeder program remains an essential part of FlightAware, with our team deploying free units to qualified hosts worldwide every day. If you live in an area where coverage is needed, we encourage you to apply to host a FlightFeeder. And for those who don’t qualify for a free unit, we introduced two purchasable versions in our store for the first time at the end of 2024.
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