Do I need an account to use the OpenSky API?

No, the basic API is free and open. However, creating a free account gives you higher rate limits and access to historical flight data.

How do I find the ICAO24 hex code for an aircraft?

You can use the get_all_states tool to see currently tracked aircraft, or look it up on external aviation databases like Planespotters.net.

Can I track flights at a specific airport?

Yes! Use get_arrivals or get_departures with the airport's ICAO code (e.g., KJFK for New York JFK) and a Unix timestamp range.

Can I retrieve flights for a specific time interval?

Yes! Use the get_flights_in_interval action with start and end Unix timestamps.

OpenSky Network MCP Server for Cursor 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: OpenSky Network
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 8 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

Get MCP Server for AI Agents

ASK AI ABOUT THIS MCP SERVER

Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude Open in Perplexity

Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

RecommendedModern Approach — Zero Configuration

Vinkius Desktop App

The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install OpenSky Network and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "opensky-network": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About OpenSky Network MCP Server

Connect OpenSky Network to any AI agent and access global, open-source air traffic data -- track aircraft in real-time, view historical flights, and monitor airport activity through natural conversation.

Cursor's Agent mode turns OpenSky Network into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from OpenSky Network and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 8 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Real-Time Tracking -- Get the current state of all tracked aircraft including altitude, velocity, and location
Airport Monitoring -- View recent arrivals and departures for any ICAO airport code
Aircraft History -- Retrieve recent flight history and tracks for specific aircraft by ICAO24 hex code
Flight Intervals -- Get all flights that occurred within a specific time window
Account Tracking -- Monitor your own registered aircraft (requires authentication)

The OpenSky Network MCP Server exposes 8 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect OpenSky Network to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the OpenSky Network MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using OpenSky Network

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using OpenSky Network, help me...". 8 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the OpenSky Network MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with OpenSky Network through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

OpenSky Network + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the OpenSky Network MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

OpenSky Network MCP Tools for Cursor (8)

These 8 tools become available when you connect OpenSky Network to Cursor via MCP:

get_all_states

Optionally filter by specific ICAO24 code. Get the states of all aircraft currently tracked by OpenSky

get_arrivals

Get arrivals at a specific airport

get_departures

Get departures from a specific airport

get_flights_by_aircraft

Get historical flights for a specific aircraft

get_flights_by_interval

Requires authentication. Get all flights in a specific time interval

get_my_flights

Get historical flights for your own aircraft (requires authentication)

get_my_states

Get the states of your own aircraft (requires authentication)

get_recent_tracks

Get recent tracks for a specific aircraft

Example Prompts for OpenSky Network in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with OpenSky Network immediately.

"Show me all current flights near my location."

"Track the aircraft with ICAO24 code a1b2c3."

"What flights departed from EDDF in the last 2 hours?"

Troubleshooting OpenSky Network MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting OpenSky Network to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

OpenSky Network + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating OpenSky Network MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.