AARoads Forum

Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: roadman65 on April 14, 2021, 11:36:08 AM

Title: What the hell is this?
Post by: roadman65 on April 14, 2021, 11:36:08 AM

https://goo.gl/maps/whqy1vq2sVFnAXwa8
At south entrance to DFW in Texas?
Title: Re: What the hell is this?
Post by: tolbs17 on April 14, 2021, 11:45:11 AM
Looks like an amplitheater.
Title: Re: What the hell is this?
Post by: kphoger on April 14, 2021, 12:12:42 PM
That's a Doppler VORTAC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VORTAC) (VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Aircraft Control) array.  Similar to radar.
Title: Re: What the hell is this?
Post by: -- US 175 -- on April 14, 2021, 12:16:51 PM
There is a duplicate one SW of the I-35E/Royal Lane exit in NW Dallas.
Title: Re: What the hell is this?
Post by: kphoger on April 14, 2021, 12:18:34 PM
Here is another example in Mississippi (https://goo.gl/maps/oSD83D2xKpBCDBb26).

And here is some more information (https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMWYBD_MAVERICK_VOR_DME_Dallas_Fort_Worth_International_Airport_TX_USA) about that one south of DFW.
Title: Re: What the hell is this?
Post by: Rothman on April 14, 2021, 12:21:33 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 14, 2021, 12:12:42 PM
That's a Doppler VORTAC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VORTAC) (VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Aircraft Control) array.  Similar to radar.
Wonder why it's on a raised platform like that.  Most aren't that...fortified.

Sort of the reverse of radar.  VORs aren't for detecting aircraft, but are navigational aids.  This one in particular not only sends out the signal by which an aircraft could follow to the VOR, but probably also conveys distance and speed data.
Title: Re: What the hell is this?
Post by: Dirt Roads on April 14, 2021, 12:27:27 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 14, 2021, 11:36:08 AM

https://goo.gl/maps/whqy1vq2sVFnAXwa8
At south entrance to DFW in Texas?

Quote from: kphoger on April 14, 2021, 12:12:42 PM
That's a Doppler VORTAC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VORTAC) (VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Aircraft Control) array.  Similar to radar.

It reminds me of the smaller weather radars used by amateurs.  But it looks so much like the monsterous (60-foot wide) radar dishes that were installed all over Britain during World War II.