*Thanks* for Map. Exploring within, came across, "Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System". never knew _hmm_ re: 'Arrow Pathway', No need for Generators, this like Solar Path light, just Huge. _now, for batteries, & 1920's_ Mirror glare, No day fly over, but night light should shine, *IF* still working. Bring Sea to Desert: Bowl filled with Bioluminescent organisms, 'just shake'. better Gauges & population put this idea out. {{sigh}}
YT has been suggesting this for about a week so I thought I would finally watch it even though I have seen this topic many times before. Really impressed good research especially with the images nice delivery nice editing really enjoyed it I am subbing.
I really got a kick out of running across this video, as my grandfather was one of the early aviators flying mail and other. He went on to constructing many of the beacons throughout the West, including Cheyenne Wyoming that I have his home photos he took of the build. Through coincidence my father became a machinist that worked out of a mobile machine shop that drove around the West routinely rebuilding the diesel generators that powered many of the beacons. He later became an employees of the FAA (then called the CAA) to maintain the beacons and later yet became a technician that maintained VOR and radar systems. Keep up the great work!
Montana still had airway beacons active in the 70s when I was still flying. They were used to 'light' the way through the mountain passes. Airway beacons had beams of red and white. They were white if you were on the airway and red if off course. Every three beacons was a green and white beacon at an airport. and those beacons still exist today. Thanks for the video.
We used to live near a really big radio tower with different lights. I always wondered what the colors meant. Occasionally they would be different than usual.
There are still two or three beacons around the Helena, MT valley. One on the Winston gap, one on Macdonald pass and possibly one still in the north hills. There has been an effort to preserve them here and they are still lit up at night.
Just last week, speaking of beacons, I got all bedded down in a pilot shack while on a XC, only to find the damn rotating beacon on the airport grounds was shining right in the shack! My bad, not the first time it's happened.
"Airway" beacons? And I don't quite understand how the red and white applied? Were ones specifically lit red so that if you flew over them you would know you were off course?
The USPS, for most people, is seldom ever thought about. As an institution, it is easily ignored, and often the brunt of many jokes. But the USPS, which is actually older than the United States, and to this day has been a part of every American citizens' life. This video is a great example of the many innovations that came out of the ever evolving needs of the postal service. Try to imagine life without the post office.
They haven't actually worked for me since I became an adult except for tax season.So that's pretty easy for me. They have been a faithful assistant for my Identity thieves though.
And contrary to much of public opinion, the USPS is NOT funded by tax dollars but since the late start sixties has been funded solely through postage stamps. The USPS cannot raise the price of stamps; that takes action by Congress.
Hi Mason: I'm a sixty eight year old former helicopter pilot. I just found this channel, and I think it's great. You have a follower for life. (Which in my case is about six months).
Well some nobody from Towson MD hopes you are still around and in no pain in twelve months. 'Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise' and all... Have a great day! 🙂
Several times you showed pictures of the arrow that’s right above our house in Reno Nevada. We’ve hiked up there many times such a great story thank you for telling it.
As a pilot for some 40 years now, I found this video very informative even though I was aware of the arrows and beacons. Thank you for expanding my knowledge about this topic.
I remember in the olden days when you could buy a first class stamp, but for a few cents more you could get an airmail stamp. The airmail stamps had pictures of airplanes.
I remember our teacher in history class explaining the usage of air mail stamps. He told us if you wanted to send a letter to the next town over (approx. 15 miles down the road) it would be useless to use an airmail stamp for the 15 mile run because there wasn't an airport at either end. He said even though the post office would be thankful you spent the extra money for the stamp it would not be delivered by air. So just put one of those .05c George Washington stamps on the envelope and that would do the trick. Funny are the things you learn in school!
I remember those pictures of airplanes on stamps. I heard some of them were actually upside down. My neighbor was a philatelist. Nowadays folks think that sounds like something you have to register for or live 50mi from a playground.
I'm a retired Postal Worker. This is an awesome piece of Postal History. Thank you for producing it. I will share this on some Postal worker pages. You got a subscriber from me. Hope you get a lot more. Be Blessed!
"Trash script & piss poor planning" - now I like that introduction to your channel. It's so refreshing to hear someone not afraid to be critical of themselves in their goal to be better. 👍
This is the best explanation of the concrete arrows and beacons I've ever seen. Thank you. I live near Salt Lake City, so I really enjoyed your pictures of the arrow between SLC and Toole, near the Great Salt Lake.
As an aviation enthusiast, the older ways of flying are slowly disappearing, including the radio beacons that I tuned in to see how radio propagation was. Sadly, GPS and other technology are replacing the antiquated ways to fly, and are not as exciting as radio beacons to try and find.
@@PRH123 Actually, the GA fatality has decreased significantly over the past several decades. But I would not cite this as evidence either way -- there are too many other factors involved.
Definitely super underrated. How can this channel have just 26000 subscribers? The quality is insane. I'd love to see the subscriber (and Patreon supporter) numbers grow. If you're reading this and you're not subscribed please do!!
Loved the oven mitts joke. As of right now you’ve got over half a million views I’m so happy for you, man. This was insanely great content and far over delivered on my expectations when clicking the thumbnail. I subscribed halfway through the video and I’m looking forward to enjoying more of your stuff.
There's one of these arrows in what is now downtown Crystal Falls, Michigan in Iron County. It was at the old airport....and that's now a cemetery attached to a county park. But, If you walk around the cemetery you'll still see the old Arrow.
3:58 Fun fact, it's much more expensive to call to the nearest town in that era, than it is to send a letter via mail. It was until VoIP was offered that you can call from the US to Canada with no extra charges.
There used to be one of "the Light Line" beacons along the Susquehanna Trail, between York, PA, and Harrisburg, PA. During my Summer visits, I would look out my grandmother's window at night and watch it flash on the horizon. This was in the early 1950's. So they operated at least that long.
Hey this reminds me of a few things back in the day when I was usually traveling with my folks the usual road trip sort of thing between different family members places different states of course as well. One of the biggest things at night was for me the neon clock I don't know at what point which company had this did some research on Wikipedia but I don't know when what time period it was I was seeing this it was many years ago I know that now it's either gone or in danger and some people put it and it's unsure of its future at that and currently don't know the status. I believe at one time it was the Colgate company and there were a few others apparently. It was a real Landmark at the time no pun intended. The other was this big Native American statue how to look like when those tobacco shop Indians back in the day. There were a few of the smaller ones around as well by the way. Also does anyone know which hotel or motel chain had the kind of a spiky ball sort of things on the pole I saw one the other day but could not make out what the sign to had originally said sign with severely damaged and also one of the spikes on the ball was missing rough shape but still working recognizable. Used to know most of which hotels and motels those were butt too long ago to remember. Also I have been in many lighthouses and one of them was really spectacular trip due to what was arranged that we were not even fully aware of it it was set up for us by someone that news someone that was when the caretakers and I believe was still The Keeper at that time as well caretaker is a minimum. Literally a throat tour even where normally people wouldn't even go weren't even be permitted because of condition not somewhere where they would usually go unless of course absolutely needed is that far into the bowels of the place and well there were dangerous! Gun lock furthermore than most people would even during the housing was probably pretty cool because of some of the artifacts and stuff interpersonal collection which was being short off to me and my family as well. I don't remember where I was but probably when they told her Towers have been in and even some photos from just inside the rail on the platform around the Beacon itself pretty cool. At that time the light had not been automated I don't know if this was one that has long since come to disuse or not lost track in can't remember the name or location eather Intercourse got to operate the fog signal system of course they said it's erotic passage for someone going on this type of tour normally this place is not open to the public either very special❤ By the way I did have one of the old blown out bulbs as a souvenir which has a place in my heart for sure. At first when they were talking about the beacons also in this video I thought they were fixed Beacon not a rotary in moldy pointing away as in a visual navigation Aid in a certain direction. Somewhere I have an old flasher from a old buoy that somebody got me it does work if the 3 volts is applied I have two but the original tube on the other was blown apparently these things the booties wind up in collecting in some areas where swirling water is basically everything winds up there it's in certain areas don't remember where but it was Electronics Enthusiast that got me these. Thought you got a cool to have as long as they need to find something to do with some circuitry I saw something interesting at our old school I'm not going to go into the whole thing because it was just too weird too much to explain. In one of the areas of the school high up there was what looked like some sort of optical signaling multiple colors of large lenses. What sort of be some sort of focus light but not sure what things were meant for ignore how things worked really apparently it could be your separately or together but unsure due to complexity of things. Keep in mind nowhere near any maritime and this was an indoors but could be somehow seen from the outside possibly at one point or another. The removable louvers to provide an opening. There was obviously some civil defense stuff going on including some enclosures marked the civil defense icon we believe that this may have been some sort of weird Optical signaling device but it's unknown all sorts of weird stuff in the area even underneath not readily accessible almost like it's meant to be this way. As for some things going on probably could be mostly rumor or just because of weird stuff that's present that no one knows what it was for. But there were some comings and goings I had heard from some of the old timers that there were people that were obviously not school staff roaming halls and going between different doors this is true but that was back in the Cold War but some of them had actually heard about this or known for others and there was a huge power system below including a few large Mercury Arc rectifiers at one time they thought it was for a trolley system but all this was still working even though trolley is long gone and also lights for trick all the time when all this stuff would start up so obviously active for something they called these areas the catacombs the chorus lonely strictly off-limits but I thought I might be able to figure some things out what was really going on only reason I had access but really pretty digital photography
Wow you answered the exact question I had while watching the vid, was wondering if regular folks would know what these were and if they used them at all as an old school gps.
I never knew that Doolittle was a "blind flying" pioneer. Thank you for a really fun history video! The Hill AFB in Utah has a museum. They have a very nice model of the Doolittle raid and an exhibit on this amazing pioneer!
Thanks for a great video about something I knew absolutely nothing about. As a child I remember the adults talking about the radio beacon station on the mountains in the area I lived in. One was on the South Mountain in Allentown Pa. The other was on the Blue Mountain near Lehighton Pa. There was an old sign at the station at South Mountain. Near Big Rock park on the mountain, that was operated by the US Navy. Last time I visited Big Rock, about ten years ago. The shed and small radio tower was still there. Thanks for educating me about it. I've seen the cement foundation for the other tower at the Bakeoven knob on the Blue mountain. Not far from where I live now. Interesting stuff I'll be tuning in to see your other videos. I love history and historical sites. Sincerely a retired CWO US Army veteran
As a pilot, I was satisfied to see this video. Papers had to be sent, contracts had to be executed. Also as a pilot, we used lots of things to navigate visually. Even at night, without those beacons, I use Pilot-Controlled Lighting (PCL) at small airports to identify where I'm located. How? You know where the airports are supposed to be based on your flight plan. Each one is activated by using a different frequency. As you are supposed to be flying by, activate the lighting. As long as you see the light where it's supposed to be you're on course. If not, you adjust your course. Have fun flying!
Love to see you back on the feed, with yet Another weird fact that you cover beautifully! Learning about odd history from the states like this is very cool as a Canadian
Well Mason, great video! Did you know that there's a flightsimming community out there that has actually made a mod portraying these mythical routes from times past? The game is Flightsimulator 2020 by MS/Asobo and the mod's name is "Arrows Across America: Fly the US Air Mail routes 1926" ... they've recreated 3 routes so far: Contract Air Mail routes #5, #8 and #32 from 1926 and they are currently working on more. It's a blessing to get into the footsteps of the early aviators, be it from the comfort of my home on the other side of the pond. Again, thanks for the video!
I love stories like these. When I go hiking, and I see little bits of concrete peeking out from the grass, I often wonder what person built it, what their life was like, and what brought them to this point where they thought this was the spot to set up and build, whatever it is that they were building. This at least is the answer to a few of those chunks of history. Cool video.
I really like the video! I am a pilot currently flying USPS between HNL, SEA, and LAX. Although I was aware of these markers, your video brought them to life in a well-documented and entertaining way. In addition, I am enjoying many of your other videos, all of which are fascinating and interesting niches of history I wasn't aware of before. Thank You!
What a great history lesson. I had been aware of the arrows, but never knew they were once accompanied by beacons. What a huge undertaking for a 2 cent piece of mail.
2:26 Is James Coburn the pilot? 8:06 "Here in Medicine _what_ "? Pretty sure it's not 'bow', as in "bow wow" or "take a bow". It is 'bow' as in "archery bow" or "bow tie".
The beacon tower at the Willows-Glenn County Airport in Northern California is the original one built by the Department of Commerce in 1928. It is still used for the airport’s rotating beacon.
I’m a current mailman (well.. mail lady) and I had no idea all of this went on back then lol. Sounds very on brand for USPS to want so badly to get the mail across the continent that they were willing to make people do this wild stuff. I don’t fly mail though I just drive it around after it flies. Last stop: me
Thanks for the fantastic research! I never knew about this. You even mapped out the locations. This is awesome 🎉! What I also enjoyed is you not only focused on the pilots but you discussed the crews that made and maintained these beacons, it could almost be 3 more videos: the planning, the construction 🏗️ and maintenance of these towers, ok, 1 more the decommissioning 😊, with the question of today’s communications. Good luck 🍀 !
As a pilot, I’ve read of this early navigation with the airmail, but this is by far the best video I’ve seen showing and explaining the history behind it, and with a bit of humor. Well done!!
Very interesting! This is the sort of topic "The History Guy" might cover, but Mason's video is just as good: short and clear, with no repetition or unnecessary information.
Hey Mason, this was GREAT! I've always had a fascination with beacons of any sort: lighthouses, storm/war sirens, airport beacons, sound and/or lighting signal systems at industrial scale, etc. What a great legacy these beacon stations have left us. Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Sub added!
Amazingly awesome video! As someone who is both a history buff as well as an aviation enthusiast, I honestly never even knew of these arrows! Now, I have a new search to do on some old Maps and historic areal pictures to find them all. :)
Few years ago, a pilot did a complaint for a defective celltower beacon at my job. He said he was a pilot and was following those along the highways and notice one defective. We went to repair it the following day.
Its good to hear about how things were done and have a record of it for future interests, but as in everything methods improve, we likely will never go back. Thank you for making a record and making it interesting.
my only regret is not having a pair of lobster claw oven mitts! Thanks Mason, You're the best person in the world to get lost with! Love Your content !:-) 🙏💜⚡
4:14 Varney Air Lines. Varney started two airlines. The first was one of the lines merged into United Air Transport. The second became Continental. Both are now happily United.
One of those other airlines merged into United was started by none other than William Boeing. Yup, that Boeing. For the longest time United only used Boeing aircraft.
I blocked GoT out so hard I had to google "the night is dark and full of terror" as I recognized it, but couldn't, for the life of me.....Very nice video.
I just love interesting obscure history! Thank you for this well-done video. You have a great way with words and humor and your content is fascinating for those of us who love lesser-known historical facts.
Very interesting! Kinda hits home for me too. My grandma worked at Cleveland airport as a secretary in the late 30s and told me about how revolutionary the air mail was, for the time it was a pretty amazing system. Too bad these did not become ATT long lines sites and live on?
People who want people to comment about it and drive engagement, increasing the chances of the youtube algorithm pushing the video to more people. Thanks for your help.
Informative and well-presented, thank you! Subscribed. I remember being told to look out for one of these arrows by my stepfather as he flew us over the desert near Barstow, CA (I think). It was also fun seeing all the Ford mail carriers, distinctive with their shortened lower wing, steep lower cowling bevel up to the bottom of the radiator, and the bow-shaped wingtip skids under the bottom wing. I built a balsa / tissue / dope model of one of these when I was 11 - it hung from the ceiling in my bedroom for years. Those were the days!
Incredibly educational. This, combined with gut-splitting dry humor (two references to the claw oven mitts, including the closing seconds of the video 😂) and a fantastically written & delivered narrative, make this video wildly entertaining. I have a pathetically short attention span, and rarely reach the end of any video without clicking out. It wasn’t until this video ended that I realized I hadn’t once checked how much longer it would take. You held my attention so fully that it left me wanting to see more. So I watched it again, catching even more hilarious moments along with solid content. I’m on board for the next video.
Thats a great question. Only one arrow, no matter what direction you were headed. Most arrows I found pointed East oddly enough, but if you were westbound, you just used the tail direction I'd assume.
If all point the same direction, you avoid confusion. Also, the arrows didn't matter as much at night. All you were seeing was lights leading off into the distance.
Sorry you're feeling desperate... Have been subscribed, here's my like though.. Very interesting. Thanks man. Hey, here's a share, just for good measure. Peace. Now,,, get lost!!
LOL...lead paint tasty... As a kid I thought so... I remember before I was even in school peeling lead paint off of the window because it was so tasty I couldn't have been but maybe 5 years old.... Well I'm over 60 and I live through it.... Hilarious
I remember when kids chewed on pencils---before they were replaced by graphite. Thankfully, I only liked biting my nails. We dealt with our anxiety issues in different ways.
I was expecting a ham radio explanation, but that was even better! Very nice editing, great voice. Keep up the good work. ... PS: now you've made me want a pair of lobster oven mitts... but silicone or cotton? Answer on an airmail postcard. 👍🏻
Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 change the original Postal service that began July 26th 1775 changed then in 1872. Maybe look a bit further into things and not just skim Google top hits. So as not to put your foot in your open mouth.
Great video. This showed up as a recommended video and I'm glad it did. I had heard about these arrows and actually found some on Google Maps, but your video provided more detailed information. I've since watched several of your videos and I must say they are very interesting. What a great RU-vid channel. This was the first of your videos that I watched but I have since watched several more. I'll be binge watching for the next couple days and I am now a subscriber.
