Starstruck locals scrambled to snap a Royal Air Force "radar jet" flying over the skies of Birmingham Airport this week.
And it wasn't the only unusual plane spotted above Birmingham skies recently.
But aside from hearing the roar of an engine as these magnificent metal birds descend, is there a way of tracking aircraft and knowing when it is coming? Can you have your camera phone ready as they fly over your home?
READ MORE: Rare RAF 'radar jet' pictured over the skies of Birmingham Airport as locals scramble for a picture
Well, it turns out the answer is yes. And it's not that difficult with the help of Flightradar24.
The website and app is the brainchild of two Swedish aviation geeks and started out as a hobby project in 2006. Now, it tracks hundreds of thousands of flights every day and has millions of users all around the world.
The global flight tracking service provides real-time information about thousands of aircraft across the globe. It is currently available online and on Apple and Android devices.
How does Flightradar24 work?
But how does it work? That's slightly more complicated. The service boasts the largest ADS-B network in the world with over 30,000 connected receivers.
Its radars receive flight information from aircraft with ADS-B transponders and send this information to servers to allow tracking.
While ADS-B, which stands for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, is a relatively new technology and rarely used by air traffic control, Flightradar24 has a network of more than 20,000 receivers.
So, how do you find flights near you? In areas where Flightradar24 normally has coverage, all major airports, including Birmingham Airport in Solihull, are marked with blue airport markers.
Users can find flights by searching for a flight number, call sign or registration. And playback is also available for individual flights so you can see flight history.
There you have it. Next time you hear a whirring above your home, flick open the app and you might just find out more.
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