View Full Version : Who knows what this is?
I just got back from hiking Davenport Gap to Hot Springs and walked by this on the way - anyone know what it is?
http://picasaweb.google.com/tbradnc/ATDavenportGapToHotSprings272008/photo#5164968771655328754
Thanks,
Thomas
It's a VOR station. Aircraft navigation. Used to be (may still be) one on top of Snowbird Mtn. north of Davenport gap also.
nitewalker
02-09-2008, 09:32
that is located on snowbird mtn. i did that section last year and have several pics of it. my trailjournal shows a pic of it....to answer your question i am not sure what it is used for, my guess is mabe a observation tower of sort.....
Oy. Same Mtn. D'oh. :datz
An FAA tower on Snowbird Mountain.
The Old Fhart
02-09-2008, 09:33
The FAA transmitter on Snowbird is sometimes referred to as 'the flying saucer' because of its round shape. If you read the signs around the fence enclosing the tower it will tell what it is.
nitewalker
02-09-2008, 09:34
It's a VOR station. Aircraft navigation. Used to be (may still be) one on top of Snowbird Mtn. north of Davenport gap also.
terrapin you beat me to the punch although i did not know that it was used for aircraft navigation....thanks for the insight...
peace out, nitewalker
You'll see more like that one here (images.google.com, "vor station" (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=vor+station&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2)). Looks to me like they've cleared off the mountaintop since I went by. I remember that mountain-top as viewless. The station emitted an audible hum.
It is a COFFS VORTAC station and provides commercial aircraft bearing information for navigation.
Here's a link:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2394170450035978783NxyZNA
warraghiyagey
02-09-2008, 09:45
Is it an old set from the movie 'The Day After'?
Thanks - I thought I might have walked up on the Mother Ship. ;)
Thomas
Terrapin is right a VOR - Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Beacon
Used for aircraft navigation.
These things are scattered all over the country, rural and metro areas.
astrogirl
02-10-2008, 00:04
http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrogirl/2195181953/
That's a picture of one in SNP. I think I was on the AT when I climbed up about 30 feet to the clearing it's in. I might have been on the Dickey Ridge Trail though.
Flush2wice
02-10-2008, 00:17
Actually it's a vault that protects the world's largest bowling pin.
Almost There
02-10-2008, 00:36
Yep, they cleared the top of Snowbird some time ago. It's pretty much open now, but slowly being covered up by bramble, except near the "Alien Burial Vault". Great place for a pack off break after the climb, there was a nice breeze last June when Little Bear and I went through there.
warraghiyagey
02-10-2008, 00:37
A giant white Space Pencil that crash landed eraser-first next to a thruway rest stop?
Shutterbug
02-10-2008, 00:57
I just got back from hiking Davenport Gap to Hot Springs and walked by this on the way - anyone know what it is?
http://picasaweb.google.com/tbradnc/ATDavenportGapToHotSprings272008/photo#5164968771655328754
Thanks,
Thomas
Those who answered VOR were half right. It is a VORTAC station that houses both a VOR station and a TACAN antenna. The round building is typical of a VOR station and the part that sticks up is the TACAN antenna. TACAN stands for Tactical Air Navigation and it is used by military aircraft. The DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) portion of the TACAN is available to civilian aircraft too.
You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TACAN
Flush2wice
02-10-2008, 01:00
I thought it was the National Ketchup Museum.
Yep, have one of those right next to Tinker Air Force Base, OK.
Thanks for the ID. It was quite a surprise to see after as I came over the hill. Good to know I wasn't hallucinating from the exertion of the climb up Snowbird.
Actually, there was a pickup truck there so I guess there is a road on the other side somewhere. I walked as close to it as I felt comfortable - I wasn't sure if I was going to run into deflector shields or not.