What is FlightTracker OS?

If you have Raspberry Pi Imager 2.x installed, you can write the FlightTracker OS image straight to an SD card using RPi Imager.

Click To Install With RPi Imager

RPi Imager will ask you to confirm the custom repository before loading it.

If the button does not work, open RPi Imager and add this URL manually under App Options → Content Repository → Custom URL:

How it works

• Follow the details above to open up the image in RPi Imager
• Select your device type and whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit version installed
  • 32-bit is best for Pi 3 (32-bit compatibility)
  • 64-bit should be good for everything else
• Set your Wi-Fi details
• Choose a device name (e.g. flighttracker)
• Let RPi Imager prepare your SD card
• Once it's finished remove the card from your computer and put it in your Raspberry Pi
• Power everything up
• The Pi connects to your Wi-Fi automatically using the credentials you (hopefully) set earlier
• Visit http://flighttracker.local:8584/ in your browser (tweak the url based on the hostname you gave this device).
• The web installer guides you through the rest
• When it's done the Pi reboots and the FlightTracker app starts up on the matrix

First, download and install Raspberry Pi Imager on your computer.

Stick a microSD card into your computer and open the Imager. The steps are:

1. Choose your device - pick the Raspberry Pi model you're using (3B, 4B, 5, etc.).

3. Choose your storage - select your microSD card. Double-check you've picked the right one, because everything on it is about to be wiped.
4. Edit the settings - before you write, the Imager will offer to apply OS customisation settings. This is where you set up:
   • A hostname for your Pi (something like flighttracker makes it easy to find on your network).
   • Your Wi-Fi details, so the Pi can join your network on first boot.

4. Write - hit the button and wait. The Imager writes the image, verifies it, and applies your settings in one go.

Once that's done, eject the card, slot it into your Pi, and power it on - then head to first boot below.

Once the card is written, eject it, slot it into your Pi, and power it on. Give it a minute or two to boot and join your network using the Wi-Fi credentials you set in the Imager.

On first boot the screen stays dark while the system prepares itself - the FlightTracker app doesn't start until the web installer has finished. Instead, the device brings up a small web server you can reach from your browser at http://flighttracker.local:8584 (using the hostname you set in the Imager) or http://<your-pi-ip>:8584.

If the .local hostname doesn't resolve on your network, you can find the Pi's IP address from your router's admin page and use that instead.

When you open the web interface you're greeted by the built-in web installer. It guides you through the remaining setup steps from your browser.

After the installation process completes the device will reboot and the FlightTracker app starts for real: the matrix comes to life and shows the QR code splash screen so you can scan it with your phone and jump straight back into the configuration UI. The same web UI is always available at http://flighttracker.local:8584.