From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Image:Beacontower.jpgApproximately 1,500
[1] Airway Beacons were constructed, covering 18,000 miles
[2] in the U.S. to guide pilots from city to city along airway corridors. Construction by the Post Office and the Department of Commerce occurred between 1923 and 1933.
[3] They were spaced ten miles apart and featured a 24-inch parabolic mirror and a 110-volt, 1000 watt lamp.
[4] In clear weather they could be seen for 40 miles.
[5] The beacons rotated at 6 rpm, creating a flash every 10 seconds for 1/10th second duration.
[6] The St. Paul Beacon sits on top of a 110 foot steel tower in
Indian Mounds Park and is believed to be the last of these beacons in existence.
[7] The radio navigation beacon system began to replace this visual system in 1929.
[8] The last visual airway beacon was shut down in 1973.
[9]
