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Air Bcn Prop Type


MOCKBA

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In the early days of aviation before radio navigation and GPS, night flying was problematic if not bordering on impossible.

 

To solve this problem, specifically for air-mail delivery, flight paths (known as airways) between key cities were delineated by a series of rotating light beacons set up about every 10 miles. These beacons were bright enough to be seen from up to 40 miles on a clear night so all a pilot had to do was follow the string of lights.

 

In addition, the airway beacon stations had a large concrete arrow built flat on the ground that pointed toward the next highest number station in the airway to facilitate daytime navigation.

 

The FAA has a good article on early night navigation, including the beacons, at http://www.ama500.jccbi.gov/afss/History/NightNav.htm. There is also a picture of a standard airway beacon station.

 

I would imagine that most of these stations are gone now, most likely torn down for scrap metal, but the concrete arrows may still be in place.

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