Episode summary: In this episode of My Weird Prompts, Herman and Corn peel back the curtain on the world of flight tracking to explain how a global network of hobbyists using inexpensive radio equipment can monitor everything from billionaire private jets to high-stakes military maneuvers. They break down the mechanics of ADSB technology—a system built for safety that has inadvertently birthed a new era of open-source intelligence—while exploring the fascinating tension between aviation transparency and national security. From the strategic "saber rattling" of doomsday planes to the digital detective work used to uncover secret flight paths, this discussion reveals why the sky is far less private than we might imagine. Show Notes In the latest episode of *My Weird Prompts*, hosts Herman and Corn take a deep dive into the invisible threads of data that crisscross our skies. What began as a question from their housemate Daniel—a curious observer of the open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts on social media—evolved into a comprehensive breakdown of how modern aviation tracking works and why, in an age of stealth and secrecy, so many high-profile aircraft remain visible to the public. ### The Mechanics of the "Shout" Herman, an aviation enthusiast with a penchant for tracking arrivals at Ben Gurion Airport, begins by deconstructing the core technology behind flight tracking: ADSB, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast. As Herman explains, the name itself is a blueprint of its function. It is "Automatic" because it requires no pilot intervention; "Dependent" because it relies on the aircraft's GPS; and "Broadcast" because it is not a private message to a specific tower, but a literal "shout" into the atmosphere. Broadcasting on the 1090 MHz frequency, these signals carry a wealth of information, including altitude, velocity, and precise coordinates. While this was originally designed to replace aging, less-precise primary radar systems, it has created a secondary effect: the democratization of aerial surveillance. Herman points out that for about thirty dollars, anyone can purchase an RTL-SDR (a software-defined radio dongle) and a Raspberry Pi to start receiving these signals. This data is then fed into massive crowdsourced networks like Flightradar24 or ADSB Exchange, creating a real-time, global map of the sky fueled by citizen science. ### Safety vs. Secrecy One of the most compelling parts of the discussion centers on a simple question: Why don't military or private planes just turn the system off? The answer, according to Herman, is a mix of physics and bureaucracy. In much of the world's most congested airspace, ADSB is mandatory. For a massive military transport plane, flying "dark" isn't just a matter of stealth; it's a massive safety hazard. Without a transponder, an aircraft becomes a "blind" spot to civilian air traffic control, risking catastrophic mid-air collisions. However, Herman and Corn reveal that "going dark" is sometimes a choice—and staying "bright" is often a message. Herman describes "electronic saber rattling," where the military deliberately leaves transponders on for assets like B-52 bombers or doomsday planes. By doing so, they ensure that adversaries—and the public—know exactly where they are. It is a form of digital posturing that uses transparency as a tool of deterrence. ### The Privacy Battleground The conversation then shifts to the controversial world of private jet tracking. While commercial sites like Flightradar24 often honor "block lists" at the request of wealthy individuals, sites like ADSB Exchange operate on a philosophy of unfiltered data. They argue that because the aircraft is using public infrastructure and broadcasting on public frequencies, the information belongs to the public. Corn and Herman discuss the "cat and mouse" game played by billionaires who attempt to hide their movements. Even with programs like the FAA's Privacy ICAO Address (PIA)—which assigns temporary, randomized IDs to aircraft—OSINT researchers use "pattern of life" analysis to unmask them. If a mystery jet consistently departs from a specific private hangar and lands near a known corporate headquarters, the veil of anonymity quickly vanishes. As Corn aptly puts it, you can change your license plate, but if you're driving the only neon-pink Cybertruck in town, people will still know it's you. ### Digital Detective Work The episode highlights that OSINT is about much more than just watching dots move on a screen; it is a form of high-level detective work. Herman explains the significance of "hex codes"—unique 24-bit addresses assigned to every aircraft. These codes act as a permanent digital fingerprint. Even if a plane changes its callsign, the hex code remains the same, allowing researchers to track aircraft back to CIA front companies or historic "extraordinary rendition" flights. The hosts also touch on "squawk codes," the four-digit transponder codes used to communicate status. While most are routine, specific codes like 7700 (general emergency) or 7500 (hijack) trigger automated bots that alert the OSINT community instantly. This real-time monitoring has led to the public witnessing major global events before they hit the news cycle. Herman cites the search for the Iranian president's helicopter in 2024, where millions watched a Turkish drone find the crash site in real-time on a flight tracker. ### The Double-Edged Sword While the democratization of this data provides a check on power and a fascinating hobby for many, Herman warns of the inherent risks. In active combat zones, flight data can be weaponized by hostile actors to time attacks on supply lines. This is why, in contested airspace, pilots transition to encrypted military-only systems or rely on TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System), which allows planes to "talk" to one another to avoid hits without broadcasting their position to the entire world. Ultimately, Herman and Corn paint a picture of a world where the "curtain of the sky" has been pulled back. Whether it's for safety, strategy, or accountability, the broadcast from the cockpit has turned the atmosphere into an open book—provided you have the right antenna to read it. Listen online: https://myweirdprompts.com/episode/adsb-flight-tracking-secrets