The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: nhmaf on October 03, 2013, 09:54:22 AM
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My cousin pointed out to me these last vestiges of part of our early aviation history:
http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2013/06/transcontinental-air-mail-route-maphead-ken-jennings
I know some folks like to do the geo-chache thing, but this seems to me like the possible beginning of a moderately interesting cross-country tour - on an airhead motorcycle, of course!
I was quite surprised about the presence of these arrows across the US, it might be cool to more or less follow the route of the arrows and see what I encounter along the way.
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I like the idea, but I think it would be really hard to find one of the markers. I have lived all my life on or near a leg of the route, and over the years I have traveled several hundred miles along various roads that are on or near that route, and I have yet to see one of the markers. Maybe they were just destroyed for more development in some areas here in the east, but I would expect some to survive. Any survivors must be well hid because I have never even heard about them.
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Most of the remaining "arrows' and the concrete pads for the beacon towers across the western states are on private property. These days, sorta like a lease for a cell phone tower out on your cow pasture.
Gates and fences are to keep livestock in and people out. Notice the western states that are crossed... First contact with a property owner might be the sound of a 12 gauge load headed your way.
Some years ago, I did some contract flying for the Fed involving aerial photography. Part of my area was near the former Fort Wolters where VietNam era USArmy rotary wing pilot wannabes went through Primary. There are still many of these small concrete strips around the Brazos River area that were used as satellite training areas. All are on private property. Spooky memories for me.
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From what I can tell, there are a very few that are preserved - one near wisconsin or Minnesota, and maybe some in Utah on national park or state part land.
Alot of the markers are likely well gone and/or invisible or inaccessible on private land, but it still might be fun to see a few that were accessible or visible - almost any excuse to explore some new country, I guess. I was using GoogleEarth to try to locate some that were referenced from that link..
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Found out about one of these that is officially preserved in New Mexico - maybe if Monte decides to take a loooooooooooooooooong ride across Texas someday he could visit it-
http://www.cibolahistory.org/aviation-heritage-museum.html
Also, on a related topic, there are apparently a number of WWII aeriel direction/location signs still on the land in the Emerald Isle - used to help give map location/reference to aircrews who were flying planes over to England from North America for the war effort..
http://eiremarkings.org/the-map/
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Pretty neat story! Clever idea to keep the pilots pointed in the right direction too!