Airport departure board clock
A split-flap clock styled like the boards at airports and train stations. Every letter clatters through the alphabet to reach the time, the day and the date. Turn on the flip sound for the full departure lounge feeling.
How a split-flap board works
Split-flap displays were the big boards at airports and train stations. Each space held a stack of thin flaps printed with letters and numbers, and a small motor turned them over one at a time until the right one showed. That's where the famous clatter came from. The Italian company Solari made them popular from the 1950s, and most have since been replaced by flat screens.
This clock copies the real thing. Every flap runs through the characters in order to reach the next one, so when the minute changes you watch each letter spin into place. The board shows the time, the day and the date. Turn the sound on with the speaker button or the S key for the full departure lounge feeling.
Good for: cafés, offices, studios, travel lovers and anyone who misses the old boards.
Like the words more than the numbers? The Words clock spells the time out. For a clock that looks like a real object, see Studio.
All ten clock styles
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Questions
Does the departure board make the clatter sound?
Yes, once you turn it on. Sound starts off, so press the speaker button or the S key. Every flap clicks as it turns, so a change of minute sounds like a real board updating.
Can it show 24-hour time like a real airport?
Yes. Open the settings and turn on 24-hour time. The AM and PM flaps disappear and the hours run from 00 to 23, the way most airport boards show them.
Why do the letters spin before they settle?
A real split-flap can only turn forward, one flap at a time, so each space steps through the alphabet until it reaches the right letter. This board does the same, which is why the day and date take a moment to arrive when you open it.