Sky Index — AI Aircraft Identifier & Global Aviation Database
Snap a photo of an aircraft and identify it with AI. Free access to aircraft types with full specifications, thousands of airports, registrations, spotting locations, flight logs & aviation events.
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What is Sky Index?
Sky Index is a free aviation platform for plane spotters, enthusiasts, and professionals. Our AI-powered aircraft identifier lets you upload a photo of an aircraft — commercial jet, military plane, helicopter, or general aviation — and get an identification with full specifications. Beyond the identifier, Sky Index offers a community-built aviation database covering aircraft types, registrations, global airports, spotting guides, preserved aircraft, and aviation events.
Whether you are a seasoned plane spotter tracking tail numbers at your local airport, a student pilot learning to recognize aircraft types, an aviation historian researching preserved warbirds, or simply curious about the plane flying overhead, Sky Index provides the tools and data you need. Our community-driven database grows every day with contributions from spotters around the globe, ensuring the most up-to-date and accurate aviation reference available online.
AI Aircraft Identifier — Identify Any Plane from a Photo
Not sure what aircraft you're looking at? Sky Index's free
AI aircraft identifier
uses advanced computer vision to recognize the aircraft type, variant, manufacturer, and key features from any photo. Simply upload or take a photo of the aircraft, and our AI engine cross-references it against a database of thousands of aircraft types to deliver an instant, accurate identification.
The AI identifier supports all major aircraft categories including commercial airliners (Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier, ATR, McDonnell Douglas), military aircraft (fighters, bombers, transports, helicopters, trainers), general aviation (Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Cirrus), business jets (Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Cessna Citation), helicopters (Bell, Robinson, Airbus Helicopters, Sikorsky), turboprops, regional jets, and historic or preserved aircraft. Free users get 3 identifications per day;
Sky Index Pro
unlocks 25 per day.
Once identified, Sky Index links directly to the full database entry for that aircraft type, showing complete technical specifications, performance data, dimensions, engine information, historical background, operator history, and all community-submitted photos. This makes it not just an identification tool but a gateway to deep aviation knowledge.
Aircraft Type Database — Full Specifications
The
aircraft type database
is the heart of Sky Index. Browse and search aircraft types from every era of aviation, from pioneer-era biplanes to next-generation wide-body airliners. Each entry includes comprehensive technical data: maximum speed in knots, range in nautical miles, service ceiling in feet, wingspan, length, height, maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), engine type and count, ICAO type designator, country of origin, first flight date, production status, and historical era classification.
Popular aircraft types in the database include the Boeing 737 family (737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9), Airbus A320 family (A319, A320, A321, A320neo), Boeing 747 (747-400, 747-8, 747-200), Airbus A350 (A350-900, A350-1000), Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A380, Embraer E-Jet family, Bombardier CRJ series, ATR 42 and ATR 72, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Beechcraft King Air, Gulfstream G650, and many more.
Each aircraft type page also displays a photo gallery of community-submitted images, a list of known registrations and airframes, operator information, preserved examples, and links to related spotting locations and aviation events. This makes every aircraft type page a comprehensive reference hub.
Aircraft Registration Lookup — Search Any Tail Number
With the
aircraft registration database
, you can search any civil aircraft registration mark — whether it is an N-number (United States), G-REG (United Kingdom), D-REG (Germany), F-REG (France), OE-REG (Austria), VH-REG (Australia), C-REG (Canada), or any other national format — to find the current operator, aircraft type, serial number (construction number), delivery date, registration history, and current status (active, stored, preserved, scrapped, or written off).
The registration database cross-references with the airframe database, which tracks individual aircraft by their manufacturer serial number (c/n). This allows you to follow an individual airframe through its entire life: from factory delivery, through operator changes and registration transfers, to its final fate — whether still flying, in storage, preserved at a museum, or scrapped.
Global Airport & Facility Database
The
airport database
covers airports and aviation facilities worldwide, from major international hubs like London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL), Los Angeles International (LAX/KLAX), Dubai International (DXB/OMDB), and Tokyo Haneda (HND/RJTT) to small municipal airfields, private strips, military airbases, heliports, seaplane bases, and glider fields. Each facility entry includes ICAO and IATA codes, FAA location identifiers, coordinates, elevation, runway count and dimensions, surface type, usage classification, traffic types, operator information, and available services.
Airport pages also feature integrated spotting location guides, operator lists (both current scheduled and historical), community check-ins, photos taken at that airport, and links to any aviation events held at the facility. This makes each airport page a one-stop reference for both operational data and spotting information.
Aircraft Spotting Locations & Guides
Sky Index hosts a
community-sourced database of spotting locations
at airports around the world. Each spotting location entry includes the precise GPS coordinates, a description of the vantage point, the best time of day for photography, ideal runway usage directions, photo angle recommendations, lighting notes, parking information, access notes (public access, permission required, etc.), and community tips from experienced spotters.
The
per-airport spotting guides
consolidate every documented photography location for a given airport into a single, easy-to-use reference. Whether you are planning a spotting trip to a major international airport or exploring a local airfield, Sky Index's spotting guides help you find the best vantage points, understand local access rules, and connect with other spotters who have visited the location.
Key Features
Identify any aircraft from a photo using advanced AI. Supports commercial, military, GA, and helicopter aircraft.
Aircraft types with full technical specifications, history, performance data, and photos.
Search any civil tail number (N12345, G-ABCD, OE-LNH) for operator history, aircraft type, and status.
Comprehensive airport and facility directory with ICAO/IATA codes, runway data, and services worldwide.
Community-sourced spotting guides with photo tips, ideal runways, lighting notes, and parking info.
Airshows, fly-ins, spotting meetups, and open days from around the world — all in one calendar.
Interactive global map of museum-display, gate guard, and preserved aircraft with location details.
Track every flight you've taken — airline, aircraft type, registration, route, and cabin class.
Record every aircraft you've spotted with date, location, movement type, and your own notes.
Aviation Events Calendar
The
aviation events calendar
lists airshows, fly-ins, spotting meetups, open days, exhibitions, races, and aviation festivals from around the world. Each event entry includes the event name, type, full description, start and end dates, venue, location (city and country), linked airport or facility, official website, and admission information. Whether you are looking for a major international airshow like the Royal International Air Tattoo or Farnborough Airshow, a local fly-in breakfast, or a spotting meetup at your nearest airport, the events calendar keeps you informed about what is happening in the aviation world.
Preserved Aircraft Map
The
preserved aircraft map
is an interactive global map showing the locations of aircraft that have been retired from active service and preserved in museums, as gate guards, in outdoor displays, or in private collections. Each preserved aircraft entry includes the registration or serial number, aircraft type, manufacturer, last known operator, current status (museum display, outdoor display, gate guard, storage, derelict, or scrapped), location name, city, region, country, coordinates, year built, year retired, and accessibility information. This is an invaluable resource for aviation historians, warbird enthusiasts, and anyone interested in visiting preserved aircraft around the world.
Personal Flight Log & Sighting Log
Registered Sky Index users can maintain a
personal flight log
to track every flight they have taken, recording the airline, flight number, aircraft type, aircraft registration, departure and arrival airports, cabin class, seat number, duration, and personal notes. The
sighting log
lets spotters record every aircraft they have spotted, including the date, time, location, movement type (arrival, departure, parked, flyover, taxi, touch-and-go, low pass, or hover), aircraft registration, type, operator, and notes. Both logs can be made public on the user's profile, allowing the community to share their aviation experiences.
Aviation Community Features
Sky Index is more than a database — it is a community platform for aviation enthusiasts.
Aviation groups and flying clubs
allow members to connect around shared interests, with discussion posts and member directories.
Homebuilt aircraft build projects
let builders document their construction or restoration journey with build logs, photos, and progress updates. The
aviation Q&A board
is a community-driven question and answer platform where users can ask and answer aviation-related questions. The
aviation marketplace
allows members to buy and sell aircraft parts, avionics, tools, models, books, apparel, and even aircraft for sale.
Photo contests
give aviation photographers a chance to showcase their work and compete for prizes, while the
contributor leaderboard
recognizes the most active and helpful community members.
Aviation References
The
references section
provides a growing library of aviation reference material, including registration prefix tables by country, ICAO and IATA code guides, airline code directories, manufacturer histories, spotting guides, runway information, photography tips, spotting etiquette, fleet reference data, and military aircraft reference material. These articles are written and curated by the Sky Index community and editorial team.
Pricing
Sky Index is free to use. Free accounts include 3 AI aircraft identifications per day and full access to the aviation database including aircraft types, registrations, airports, and spotting locations.
Sky Index Pro
is available for $4.99/month or $39.99/year and unlocks 25 AI aircraft identifications per day plus all Pro features. There are no ads on Pro accounts.
Who Uses Sky Index?
Sky Index is used by plane spotters, aviation enthusiasts, pilots, aviation students, researchers, military aviation fans, scale modelers, flight simmers, photographers, and general aviation hobbyists worldwide. It is the go-to tool for identifying aircraft from photos, looking up aviation data, logging flights and sightings, finding spotting locations, discovering aviation events, and connecting with the global aviation community.
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Legal & Contact
Country and geographic names on this site are for reference purposes only and do not reflect any political opinion or endorsement.
