Warflying in a Cessna

Concept and Motivation Behind Warflying

Combining airborne flight with traditional wireless wardriving techniques allows researchers to measure radio frequency leakage at altitude. Flying a Cessna equipped with wireless monitoring gear enables large-scale geographic signal mapping.

Hardware Setup and Flight Safety

Executing aerial reconnaissance requires careful preparation regarding aviation safety regulations, equipment power constraints, and antenna placement within a small general aviation aircraft.

Signal Capture at High Altitudes

Flight tests conducted at altitudes of 1500 to 2500 feet collected substantial wireless traffic from ground-based access points. Signal propagation data reveals how far terrestrial Wi-Fi signals escape into the atmosphere and are detectable from the air.

Data Processing and Analysis

Geospatial analysis of the captured wireless packets highlights the density of unencrypted and misconfigured access points visible from civilian aircraft altitudes.