The story behind the large concrete arrows scattered across Utah

YouTube ^ | May 21, 2018 | Devon Dewey

[Leaning Right]

In the 1920s, the U.S. government built hundreds of large, concrete arrows across the country. The purpose of the arrows was to provide guidance at night for pilots who were pioneering the country's airmail system.

This aerial pathway eventually ran from New York all the way to San Francisco.

[Leaning Right]

Something of interest to aviation buffs.

[Leaning Right]

https://youtu.be/-DfzbnW2DTI

[BiglyCommentary]

How were they seen at night?

[Leaning Right]

> How were they seen at night? <

A small tower was built near each arrow. A spotlight in the tower illuminated the arrow. Those towers are all gone now.

[ConservaTexan]

Explained in the video.

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

At the time pilots could only fly safely during the day.

You’re welcome.

[dinodino]

I guess you didn’t watch the video. They had powerful lights mounted above them.

[cyclotic]

Eddie Richenbacker wrote about them in his 1963 autobiography Richenbacker

[BenLurkin]

Put there to keep the pioneers from going in circles.

[Leaning Right]

> Put there to keep the pioneers from going in circles. <

I’ll be honest. I like your explanation better.

[M1903A1]

One of those guidance arrows (made of sheet metal) was atop a former railroad station in Watertown, Wisconsin into the 1980s.

[Flick Lives]

Cool. Sort of like trail markers, but for aircraft.

Interesting to think how quickly the technology of powered flight developed from the first flight at Kittyhawk in 1903 to flying transcontinental mail at night less than 20 years later.

[Leaning Right]

> Cool. Sort of like trail markers, but for aircraft. <

After a Chinese electromagnetic pulse attack wipes out our advanced electronics we might have to go back to those old markers.

(Just kidding. I hope.)

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The light on Mt. Diablo in California remains. It is mounted on a a beautiful stone tower on the summit of the leak, not a steel tower, but it was a key element in that navigation system.

It was completely restored a few years ago and it is lit annually on December 7. It was extinguished in December 1941 for obvious reasons and stayed out until 1964 when it was relit in honor of those who died in WW II.

[The Louiswu]

Let me paint you a sarcastic word picture. It’s obvious that these navigation arrows need to be destroyed and all record of their existence be stricken from all records. Why you ask?

Aviation, Navigation, mail, pilots, airplanes, all of it, is the evil work of white supremacy and the vile white man. /s

[Carriage Hill]

:Fascinating, Captain...”

[cgbg]

Your concern is totally valid (though sarcastic for now).

Many ancient civilizations “disappeared” along with virtually all of their records because the were “canceled” by their enemies.

Homo Sapiens keeps repeating the same games....all in the name of “virtue”.

[Scrambler Bob]

Yep, they appropriated the Arrow, and turned it against the Noble Red Man.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Thank you, hard for me to get something “new” to me in my 80th year. I had not heard of these. Thanks for the post.

[Leaning Right]

You are very welcome. I try to post something interesting and non-political every Sunday.