Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

"Flying the Beam" Board Game

To exploit air travel's popularity and to explain the new radio range system in an easily understood manner, Parker Brothers introduced "Flying the Beam" in 1941. The object of the game was to be the first to safely land at the airport using radio range navigation. Playing pieces were rubber DC-3s.

The game board graphically shows how the system worked:

- A radio beacon sent out signals in a pattern of Morse code A's (dot-dash) and N's (dash-dot).

- Where the signals intersected, they combined to produce a continuous tone, which a pilot could follow toward the radio beacon.

- If the aircraft strayed from the center of the beam, the signal for either an "A" or "N" alerted the pilot that he had strayed off course.

- The exact location of the range beacon was identified by a "cone of silence."

Gift of Frank Youngquist

 Display Status

This object is on display in America by Air at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

America by Air
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type MEMORABILIA-Miscellaneous Manufacturer Parker Brothers Inc.
 Physical Description Three plastic airplane-shaped game tokens for "Flying The Beam". One yellow, one green, one red. Dimensions 3-D (Pieces, Each): 4 × 6 × 1cm (1 9/16 × 2 3/8 × 3/8 in.)
 Materials Plastic
 Inventory Number A19790160001 Credit Line Donated by Frank Youngquist Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.