Display Status
This object is on display in America by Air at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Key Accomplishment(s)
Last Operational Air Beacon in the U.S.
Brief Description
Night flying presented special hazards for air mail pilots. In the 1920s, the Post Office established a system of lighted airways marked by powerful rotating beacons. Placed 16 km (10 mi) apart, they rotated every 10 seconds and were visible 60 km (40 mi) away.
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
EQUIPMENT-Ground Control Apparatus
Physical Description
Airway Beacon Light, last one operational in USA. A 24" rotating beacon light, with coded red signal light and control units. Top five feet of tower included. Removed from Crestline, Whitewater, California (near Palm Springs).
Dimensions
3-D: 185.4 × 172.7 × 454.7cm, 438.6kg (73 in. × 68 in. × 14 ft. 11 in., 967lb.)
Materials
Steel, aluminum, copper, glass, paint
Alternate Name
Airway Beacon and Tower
Inventory Number
A19730705000
Credit Line
Transferred from the Federal Aviation Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Open Access (CCO)
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