Squawk 1200: Airplane Side-Scroller Game

A free retro airplane game. Fly as far as you can, and remember that a Stratux sees what you cannot.

How to play

• Steer your Cessna with the arrow keys or WASD, or drag on a touch screen. The score is the distance you fly, in nautical miles.
• Dodge other traffic, storm cells, bird flocks, towers and terrain. A lightning strike ends the flight, and stay out of TFR no-fly boxes.
• A near miss with traffic you have already seen is called traffic, which pays a bonus. Chain them for x2, x3 and x4 combos.
• Grab the orange boxes for Stratux-style power-ups: ADS-B In shows traffic early, Dual-band gives a longer look, FIS-B NEXRAD reveals storms, Lightning Detect gives a one second warning, AHRS smooths turbulence, a Battery lets you survive one hit, and NOTAM shows TFR zones.
• The Daily Challenge gives everyone the same sky each day. Share your result and challenge a friend with a link.

Why pilots like it

Without a Stratux the game is intentionally hard: traffic shows up late, storms are faint haze and lightning gives no warning. Each power-up mirrors something a real portable ADS-B receiver does.

ADS-B In receivers hear traffic on 1090 MHz and 978 MHz UAT, and FIS-B delivers NEXRAD radar and other weather over 978 MHz, free to any receiver in range. It is a good reminder of why seeing traffic and weather early matters.

Learn more about how ADS-B works.

Questions pilots ask

Is SQUAWK 1200 free?

Yes. It runs in your browser on phones, tablets and computers. There is nothing to install and no account is needed.

What does squawk 1200 mean?

1200 is the standard transponder code for VFR flight in the United States when you are not assigned another code by ATC.

How is the score calculated?

Your score is nautical miles flown plus bonuses for called traffic near misses. Higher combos pay more.

Does the game use real ADS-B data?

No. The traffic is simulated. The power-ups are based on what a real Stratux receiver provides.

More games

• Tower Hunt, log real FAA ADS-B ground stations
• Lightning Command, a weather-defense game
• Pattern Work, a landing game
• Balloon Launch, a near-space balloon flight
• All of Stratux Arcade