Mini METAR Display - ESP32-C3 Aviation Weather Display

This project is a compact Wi-Fi aviation weather display built around an ESP32-C3 Super Mini and a 1.28 inch round GC9A01 240×240 TFT display.

It connects to Wi-Fi, asks the user for an airport ICAO code, and displays live METAR information from AviationWeather.gov. It is designed as a small desktop aviation weather display for pilots, A&P students, aviation enthusiasts, makers, and electronics hobbyists.

Features

• Live METAR data over Wi-Fi
• Airport ICAO code setup through a Wi-Fi configuration portal
• Saved Wi-Fi and airport settings
• Automatic METAR refresh every 5 minutes
  Displays:
   - Airport code
   - Flight category
   - Wind
   - Visibility
   - Ceiling
   - Altimeter
   - Temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit
  - BOOT-button reset support for reconfiguring Wi-Fi and airport settings
  - Designed for the ESP32-C3 Super Mini
  - Designed for a 1.28 inch round GC9A01 240×240 TFT SPI display

Typical Uses

• Aviation desk display
• Pilot weather reference
• A&P student project
• Electronics learning project
• ESP32-C3 display project
• Wi-Fi IoT dashboard
• Small aviation-themed desktop gadget

Hardware Used

• ESP32-C3 Super Mini
• 1.28 inch round GC9A01 240×240 TFT SPI display
• USB-C cable
• Jumper wires
• 3D printed enclosure

Firmware / Source Code

The firmware and build instructions are available on GitHub:

[https://github.com/jasonmarquette/Mini-METAR-Display](https://github.com/jasonmarquette/Mini-METAR-Display)

The GitHub repository includes the PlatformIO project, wiring information, build/upload instructions, Wi-Fi setup details, and live METAR display code.

Notes

1. The display backlight pin must be connected to 3.3V or the screen may appear black even if the firmware is running.
2. The ESP32-C3 only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so the Wi-Fi network used during setup must be a 2.4 GHz network.
3. This is a DIY electronics project. Basic soldering, wiring, and PlatformIO/Arduino experience are helpful.