# Hey, What's Flying? (heywhatsflying.com)

> A live, national view of what is flying over the United States right now: the number of aircraft airborne, altitude bands, top aircraft types, the highest and fastest, emergency squawks (7500/7600/7700), military and helicopter activity, and a live map. It is built on the community ADS-B feed from airplanes.live and refreshes about every 15 seconds. It is also a reference on aircraft types, squawk codes and flight-tracking concepts.

Key facts:
- Coverage box: 24-50 N, 125-66 W (continental US plus nearby Canada, Mexico and offshore).
- Typical airborne count in that box: about 5,000-7,000 in the US afternoon peak (for example 6,080 at 3:11 pm ET on Sunday, October 11, 2026), falling sharply overnight.
- Live data API (same origin, JSON): /api/snapshot?region=us, /api/aircraft/{hex}.
- Every aircraft links to https://globe.airplanes.live/?icao={hex} for full tracking and history.
- Sister site for the local "what's over me" view: https://heywhatsabove.com/

## Live pages
- [Live dashboard](https://heywhatsflying.com/): Live count of aircraft airborne over the US with altitude bands, top types, highest and fastest, emergency squawks and a live map.
- [Emergencies now](https://heywhatsflying.com/emergencies): Live list of aircraft over the US squawking 7700, 7600 or 7500 right now, with calm, plain-English explanations of what each code means.
- [Military & government now](https://heywhatsflying.com/military): Live list of military and government aircraft visible over the US right now: tankers, transports, trainers and patrol aircraft, with why some never appear.
- [Helicopters now](https://heywhatsflying.com/helicopters): Live count and list of helicopters airborne over the United States: air medical, news, police, tour, offshore and military rotorcraft right now.
- [Highest and fastest right now](https://heywhatsflying.com/highest-fastest): Live top aircraft by altitude and ground speed over the US.
- [Live map](https://heywhatsflying.com/map): Live map of all aircraft over the US, colored by altitude.
- [Aircraft types](https://heywhatsflying.com/types): Index of 74 aircraft types with live counts.
- [Squawk codes](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk): Index of transponder codes explained.
- [How many planes are in the sky right now?](https://heywhatsflying.com/how-many-planes-are-in-the-sky): How many aircraft are flying over the US right now, live, plus FAA daily figures and how the count rises and falls by hour, weekday and season.
- [Airlines and operators: who is flying](https://heywhatsflying.com/airlines): Who is in US skies: major airlines, regionals, cargo, fractional jets, GA and military, and a table of common callsign prefixes with their operators.
- [Guides](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides): Index of guides.
- [Glossary](https://heywhatsflying.com/glossary): Definitions of flight-tracking terms.
- [FAQ](https://heywhatsflying.com/faq): Frequently asked questions.
- [Look up any aircraft](https://heywhatsflying.com/lookup): Search the live feed by hex, callsign or registration.
- [Pro](https://heywhatsflying.com/pro): Pro plans and waitlist.

## Guides
- [Flight tracking basics](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/flight-tracking-basics): How live flight trackers know where planes are: ADS-B broadcasts, volunteer receivers, community feeds, delays and coverage gaps, explained simply.
- [ADS-B vs MLAT: two ways to find an aircraft](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/adsb-vs-mlat): ADS-B aircraft report their own GPS position; MLAT calculates position from signal timing at 4+ receivers. How each works, accuracy, and the US mandate.
- [Why military aircraft show up on trackers, or don't](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/why-military-aircraft-show-or-dont): Why tankers and transports often appear on flight trackers while fighters usually do not: ADS-B rules, operational security, MLAT and military hex codes.
- [How to read flight data](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/reading-flight-data): What hex, callsign, registration, type, altitude, ground speed, track, vertical rate, squawk, category and "seen" mean on a live flight tracker.
- [Altitude and flight levels: who flies how high](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/altitude-and-flight-levels): How high planes fly in the US: the 18,000 ft transition altitude, flight levels, typical cruising altitudes by aircraft type, and our altitude bands.
- [ADS-B emitter categories explained](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/adsb-emitter-categories): ADS-B emitter categories tell trackers what is transmitting: light, heavy, rotorcraft, glider, balloon, drone or ground vehicle. Full A0 to C7 list.
- [Helicopters, balloons and other oddities](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/helicopters-balloons-and-oddities): What makes a flight "interesting right now": rare types, helicopters, balloons, gliders, blimps and survey orbits, and how to spot them on a live map.
- [Callsigns, registrations and hex codes](https://heywhatsflying.com/guides/callsigns-registrations-and-hex-codes): How flight numbers, callsigns, ICAO and IATA airline codes, N-numbers and 24-bit hex addresses relate, plus privacy programs like LADD and PIA.

## Squawk codes
- [Squawk 7700: General emergency](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/7700): Squawk 7700 is the universal transponder code a pilot sets to declare a general emergency.
- [Squawk 7600: Lost communications](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/7600): Squawk 7600 is the transponder code for a radio communications failure (NORDO).
- [Squawk 7500: Unlawful interference](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/7500): Squawk 7500 is the transponder code reserved for unlawful interference, meaning a hijacking.
- [Squawk 7400: Unmanned aircraft lost link](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/7400): Squawk 7400 indicates an unmanned aircraft whose control link with its ground pilot has been lost.
- [Squawk 1200: VFR (United States)](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/1200): Squawk 1200 is the default transponder code for VFR flights in the US that have not been given a code by ATC.
- [Squawk 1202: VFR glider (United States)](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/1202): Squawk 1202 is the US code for VFR gliders that are not in contact with air traffic control.
- [Squawk 1255: Firefighting aircraft](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/1255): Squawk 1255 is the US transponder code for aircraft engaged in firefighting operations.
- [Squawk 1277: Search and rescue](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/1277): Squawk 1277 is the US code for VFR aircraft conducting search and rescue operations.
- [Squawk 4000: Military operations area](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/4000): Squawk 4000 is the US code for military aircraft operating in restricted or warning areas or on VFR military training routes.
- [Squawk 7777: Military interceptor operations](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/7777): Squawk 7777 is reserved in the US for military interceptor operations and is not assigned to normal flights.
- [Squawk 2000: Entering SSR airspace without a code](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/2000): Squawk 2000 is the ICAO code for an aircraft entering secondary radar coverage without having been assigned a code.
- [Squawk 7000: VFR conspicuity (ICAO / Europe)](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/7000): Squawk 7000 is the standard VFR conspicuity code in the UK, Europe and many other ICAO countries.
- [Squawk 1000: IFR Mode S conspicuity (Europe)](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/1000): Squawk 1000 is a conspicuity code used in Europe for IFR flights that ATC identifies by Mode S address instead of a discrete code.
- [Squawk 0000: No code / non-standard](https://heywhatsflying.com/squawk/0000): Squawk 0000 is not assigned for normal civil use; in public data it usually means no code is set or the value is an artifact.

## Aircraft types
- [Airbus A319 (A319)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a319): The Airbus A319 is a shortened member of Airbus's A320 family, seating roughly 124 to 156 passengers.
- [Airbus A320 (A320)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a320): The Airbus A320 is a single-aisle twinjet airliner that seats about 150 to 186 passengers and is one of the best-selling jets ever built.
- [Airbus A321 (A321)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a321): The Airbus A321 is the stretched member of the A320 family, seating about 185 to 220 passengers in a single-aisle cabin nearly 7 m longer than the A320.
- [Airbus A320neo (A20N)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a20n): The Airbus A320neo is the re-engined version of the A320, with neo meaning new engine option.
- [Airbus A321neo (A21N)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a21n): The Airbus A321neo is the re-engined, long-fuselage A321 and the best-selling model in the A320neo family.
- [Airbus A330-200 (A332)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a332): The Airbus A330-200 is a twin-engine, twin-aisle widebody that seats roughly 210 to 290 passengers.
- [Airbus A330-300 (A333)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a333): The Airbus A330-300 is the original, longer version of the A330 twin-aisle airliner, seating about 250 to 300 passengers.
- [Airbus A350-900 (A359)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a359): The Airbus A350-900 is a long-range, twin-engine widebody built largely from carbon-fiber composites, seating about 300 to 350 passengers.
- [Boeing 717-200 (B712)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b712): The Boeing 717-200 is a 100-to-117-seat twinjet with engines mounted on the rear fuselage and a T-tail.
- [Boeing 737-700 (B737)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b737): The Boeing 737-700 is the shorter mainstream member of the 737 Next Generation family, seating about 126 to 149 passengers.
- [Boeing 737-800 (B738)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b738): The Boeing 737-800 is a single-aisle twinjet seating about 162 to 189 passengers and the best-selling version of the 737 Next Generation family.
- [Boeing 737-900/900ER (B739)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b739): The Boeing 737-900 is the longest member of the 737 Next Generation family, seating about 178 to 220 passengers.
- [Boeing 737 MAX 8 (B38M)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b38m): The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the re-engined successor to the 737-800, with the same basic size and 162 to 189 seats but larger, more efficient LEAP-1B engines.
- [Boeing 737 MAX 9 (B39M)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b39m): The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is the stretched version of the 737 MAX, replacing the 737-900ER and seating about 178 to 220 passengers.
- [Boeing 757-200 (B752)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b752): The Boeing 757-200 is a powerful single-aisle twinjet that seats about 180 to 234 passengers and is famous for its strong climb and short-runway performance.
- [Boeing 767-300/300ER/300F (B763)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b763): The Boeing 767-300 is a twin-aisle, twin-engine jet that comes in passenger (300ER) and freighter (300F) versions.
- [Boeing 777-200/200ER (B772)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b772): The Boeing 777-200 is the original version of Boeing's big twin-engine widebody, seating about 300 to 360 passengers.
- [Boeing 777-300ER (B77W)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b77w): The Boeing 777-300ER is a stretched, extended-range 777 seating about 350 to 400 passengers, powered by the GE90-115B, among the most powerful jet engines ever certified.
- [Boeing 777-200LR / 777F (B77L)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b77l): The ICAO code B77L covers the Boeing 777-200LR, the ultra-long-range passenger 777, and the 777F freighter built on the same airframe.
- [Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (B788)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b788): The Boeing 787-8 is the original and shortest Dreamliner, a composite-built twin-engine widebody seating about 220 to 250 passengers.
- [Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (B789)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b789): The Boeing 787-9 is a stretched Dreamliner, about 6 m longer than the 787-8, seating roughly 250 to 296 passengers.
- [Boeing 747-8 (B748)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b748): The Boeing 747-8 is the final, longest and most efficient version of the 747 Jumbo Jet, built as the 747-8F freighter and the 747-8I passenger model.
- [Boeing 747-400 (B744)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b744): The Boeing 747-400 is the best-selling version of the 747 Jumbo Jet, with a two-crew glass cockpit, longer wings and winglets.
- [McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (MD11)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/md11): The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a three-engine widebody derived from the DC-10, recognizable by the third engine built into its tail.
- [Airbus A300-600 (A306)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/a306): The Airbus A300-600 is an improved version of the A300, the world's first twin-engine widebody airliner and Airbus's first product.
- [Airbus A220-100 (BCS1)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/bcs1): The Airbus A220-100 is a clean-sheet single-aisle jet seating about 100 to 135 passengers, originally developed by Bombardier as the CS100.
- [Airbus A220-300 (BCS3)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/bcs3): The Airbus A220-300 is the stretched version of the A220, seating about 120 to 160 passengers.
- [Embraer E175 (E75L)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/e75l): The Embraer E175 is a 76-to-88-seat regional jet from Brazil's Embraer and the backbone of US regional flying.
- [Embraer E170 (E170)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/e170): The Embraer E170 is the smallest member of Embraer's E-Jet family, seating about 66 to 72 passengers.
- [Embraer E190 (E190)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/e190): The Embraer E190 is a stretched E-Jet seating about 96 to 114 passengers, with a larger wing and more powerful engines than the E170 and E175.
- [Bombardier CRJ200 (CRJ2)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/crj2): The Bombardier CRJ200 is a 50-seat regional jet developed from the Canadair Challenger business jet.
- [Bombardier CRJ700 (CRJ7)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/crj7): The Bombardier CRJ700 is a stretched CRJ with about 65 to 78 seats, a new wing and more powerful engines.
- [Bombardier CRJ900 (CRJ9)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/crj9): The Bombardier CRJ900 is the longest common CRJ, seating about 76 to 90 passengers in a slim four-abreast cabin.
- [Embraer ERJ-145 (E145)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/e145): The Embraer ERJ-145 is a 50-seat regional jet with engines on the rear fuselage and a T-tail.
- [Cessna Citation Excel / XLS (C56X)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c56x): The Cessna Citation Excel is a midsize business jet that pairs a shortened Citation X-style stand-up cabin with a straight wing.
- [Cessna Citation Latitude (C68A)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c68a): The Cessna Citation Latitude is a midsize business jet known for a wide, flat-floor cabin with six feet of headroom.
- [Embraer Phenom 300 / 300E (E55P)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/e55p): The Embraer Phenom 300 is a light business jet from Brazil that has been the world's best-selling light jet for more than a decade.
- [Bombardier Challenger 300 (CL30)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/cl30): The Bombardier Challenger 300 is a super-midsize business jet that can fly nonstop across the continental US.
- [Bombardier Challenger 350 / 3500 (CL35)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/cl35): The Bombardier Challenger 350 is an updated Challenger 300 with more powerful engines, canted winglets and a refreshed cabin.
- [Bombardier Challenger 600 series (601/604/605/650) (CL60)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/cl60): The Bombardier Challenger 600 series is a large-cabin business jet family that has been in production for more than four decades.
- [Gulfstream IV / G300 / G400 / G450 (GLF4)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/glf4): The Gulfstream IV is a large-cabin, long-range business jet and the ancestor of the modern Gulfstream line.
- [Gulfstream V / G500 / G550 (GLF5)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/glf5): The Gulfstream V is an ultra-long-range business jet that can fly about 6,700 nautical miles nonstop.
- [Gulfstream G650 / G650ER / G700 (GLF6)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/glf6): The Gulfstream G650 is an ultra-long-range business jet that can cruise close to the speed of sound.
- [Bombardier Global Express / Global 5000 / Global 6000 (GLEX)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/glex): The Bombardier Global Express is an ultra-long-range business jet family, including the Global 5000 and Global 6000.
- [Learjet 45 / 75 (LJ45)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/lj45): The Learjet 45 is a light business jet from the brand that helped invent the business jet.
- [Pilatus PC-24 (PC24)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/pc24): The Pilatus PC-24 is a Swiss light business jet built to operate from short and even unpaved runways.
- [Cessna Citation CJ3 / CJ3+ (C25B)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c25b): The Cessna Citation CJ3 is a light business jet in the CitationJet line, certified to be flown by a single pilot.
- [Dassault Falcon 2000 (F2TH)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/f2th): The Dassault Falcon 2000 is a French large-cabin business jet built by the same company that makes the Rafale fighter.
- [Hawker 800 / 800XP / 850XP / 900XP (H25B)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/h25b): The Hawker 800 is a midsize business jet descended from the British de Havilland DH.125 of the early 1960s.
- [Pilatus PC-12 (PC12)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/pc12): The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop from Switzerland that carries up to nine passengers.
- [Beechcraft King Air 200 / 250 (BE20)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/be20): The Beechcraft King Air 200 is a twin-engine turboprop that has been one of the most popular business and utility aircraft in the world for five decades.
- [Beechcraft King Air 350 / 360 (B350)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b350): The Beechcraft King Air 350 is the largest member of the King Air turboprop family, a stretched King Air 200 with more power.
- [Cessna 208 Caravan / Grand Caravan (C208)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c208): The Cessna 208 Caravan is a rugged single-engine turboprop utility aircraft with a high wing and fixed landing gear.
- [Daher TBM 900 series (910 / 930 / 940 / 960) (TBM9)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/tbm9): The Daher TBM 900 series are very fast single-engine turboprops, built in France and often flown by their owners.
- [Cessna 172 Skyhawk (C172)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c172): The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane and the most produced aircraft in history.
- [Cessna 182 Skylane (C182)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c182): The Cessna 182 Skylane is a four-seat, high-wing piston airplane with more power and payload than the Cessna 172.
- [Cirrus SR22 (SR22)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/sr22): The Cirrus SR22 is a four- to five-seat composite piston airplane and the best-selling high-performance single-engine airplane for more than two decades.
- [Piper PA-28 Cherokee / Warrior / Archer (P28A)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/p28a): The Piper PA-28 is a family of four-seat, low-wing piston airplanes that includes the Cherokee, Warrior and Archer.
- [Beechcraft Bonanza A36 (BE36)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/be36): The Beechcraft Bonanza A36 is a six-seat, high-performance single-engine piston airplane with retractable landing gear.
- [Diamond DA40 Diamond Star (DA40)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/da40): The Diamond DA40 is a four-seat composite piston airplane built in Austria and Canada.
- [Robinson R44 (R44)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/r44): The Robinson R44 is a four-seat, light, piston-engine helicopter and one of the best-selling civil helicopters in the world.
- [Airbus Helicopters H135 / EC135 (EC35)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/ec35): The Airbus H135, formerly the EC135, is a light twin-engine helicopter designed for emergency medical service and police work.
- [Airbus Helicopters H125 / AS350 Ecureuil (AStar) (AS50)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/as50): The Airbus H125, long known in North America as the AStar, is a single-engine turboshaft helicopter prized for high-altitude performance.
- [Bell 407 (B407)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b407): The Bell 407 is a single-engine light helicopter developed from the Bell 206 LongRanger with a four-blade rotor and more power.
- [Sikorsky S-76 (S76)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/s76): The Sikorsky S-76 is a medium twin-engine helicopter designed for offshore oil and gas transport and executive travel.
- [Airbus Helicopters H145 / EC145 (UH-72 Lakota) (EC45)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/ec45): The Airbus H145, formerly the EC145, is a light twin-engine helicopter used for medical, police and military roles.
- [Bell 206 JetRanger / LongRanger (B06)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/b06): The Bell 206 JetRanger is a light single-engine turbine helicopter that became one of the most familiar helicopters in the world.
- [Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (C17)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c17): The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large four-engine military cargo jet that can carry tanks and helicopters and land on short runways.
- [Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules (C30J)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c30j): The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is the modern version of the C-130 tactical airlifter, with new engines, six-blade propellers and a digital cockpit.
- [Lockheed C-130 Hercules (legacy models) (C130)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/c130): The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport that has been flying since 1954.
- [Boeing KC-135R/T Stratotanker (K35R)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/k35r): The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a four-engine military aerial refueling tanker that has served the US Air Force since 1957.
- [Boeing P-8A Poseidon (P8)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/p8): The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is a US Navy maritime patrol aircraft based on the Boeing 737-800.
- [Sikorsky H-60 family (Black Hawk, Seahawk, Jayhawk, Pave Hawk) (H60)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/h60): The Sikorsky H-60 is a family of medium twin-engine military helicopters, including the Army UH-60 Black Hawk and Navy MH-60 Seahawk.
- [Northrop T-38 Talon (T38)](https://heywhatsflying.com/type/t38): The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer and the world's first supersonic trainer.

## Optional
- [About](https://heywhatsflying.com/about): What the site is and where the data comes from.
- [Privacy](https://heywhatsflying.com/privacy): No accounts, no tracking cookies, no analytics.
- [Terms](https://heywhatsflying.com/terms): For curiosity and education only; not for navigation.
- [Full content as Markdown](https://heywhatsflying.com/llms-full.txt): All guides, squawk codes, type pages, glossary and FAQ in one file.