2 weeks, 5000 miles, and 3 States, (Hey, they were Western States!)

[Cabrito]

Craig,
Excellent trip report! :victory:
Next time do yourself a favor and wear the new boots. :sombrero:

 

[Bellpilot]

Great photos and interesting story to boot...

As a commercial helicopter pilot (Tour/ Part 135 Charter -and Motion Picture/TV Waiver thrown in...) I find your research and of course searching for the beacons very fascinating work. Even though I hate aircraft crashes (for obvious reasons) I would have enjoyed tagging along on your awesome trip

Thank you for sharing!

Bellpilot

"Takeoffs are optional, landings are guaranteed"

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Great stuff, I appreciate your effort documenting all this

You might enjoy these articles:
Old Airmail Beacons in Utah

And more recently Alex (ExPo and ExpUt) member visited that same PBY wreck:
Down the tubes in El Malpais

 

[KSJeep]

Really good stuff, Thanks.

 

[SirCampalot]

I really enjoy your write-ups... thank you.

 

[PHXtaco]

Thank guys! I actually have two more trip reports I need to write up and post. Since getting back from NM, I have started following the San Francisco to Salt Lake airway. Conveniently in western NV, the route is pretty much in-between I-80 and Hwy 50—i.e. in the middle of nowhere—perfect for a overland style backcountry adventure.

Kurt, thanks for the heads up on the ExpUt posts. I actually spent most of last week working up a bid to do a survey on an old plane out on the bombing range outside of Salt Lake. If I get the contract I will be sure to post up a trip report over there.

 

[1leglance]

very cool trip report...that is worthy of the "expedition" title as you are using your rig to do some very nice research and keeping the history alive.
Amazing to think how many people would have no idea what they are passing by.
thanks!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thank guys! I actually have two more trip reports I need to write up and post. Since getting back from NM, I have started following the San Francisco to Salt Lake airway. Conveniently in western NV, the route is pretty much in-between I-80 and Hwy 50—i.e. in the middle of nowhere—perfect for a overland style backcountry adventure.

I've been through much of that area, solitude, scenery and plenty of exploring available.

TKurt, thanks for the heads up on the ExpUt posts. I actually spent most of last week working up a bid to do a survey on an old plane out on the bombing range outside of Salt Lake. If I get the contract I will be sure to post up a trip report over there.

Very cool. If you end up in the area on either project I would love to join you! The Pony Express Trail runs through that same general area and offers a plethora of exploring options for 1-10 day trips, I'd be more than happy to show you around.

 

[High Center]

Arizona has got to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Thanks for the report- it made far a wonderful Sunday morning of expo-dreaming.

Cheers!
DB

 

[PHXtaco]

Very cool. If you end up in the area on either project I would love to join you! The Pony Express Trail runs through that same general area and offers a plethora of exploring options for 1-10 day trips, I'd be more than happy to show you around.

I will take you up on that if I go! I was pleased to see that the cost of an airline ticket plus rental was the same as mileage driving out there. This way I can justify driving and hope to do some exploring on either end of the trip. I will let you know.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I will take you up on that if I go! I was pleased to see that the cost of an airline ticket plus rental was the same as mileage driving out there. This way I can justify driving and hope to do some exploring on either end of the trip. I will let you know.

For sure.

So do you run aviationarchaeology.com then? Funny that was one of the links I posted in the ExpUt thread, small world but you've got a great site going!

 

[PHXtaco]

So do you run aviationarchaeology.com then?...you've got a great site going!

Yep, and thanks!

 

[cellularsteve2]

Very interesting report. I really enjoyed your writeup. Thanks for sharing.

steve

 

[Co-opski]

Thanks for the write up PHXtaco.

 

[Desert Dan]

Thanks for the interesting trip report. I had never heard of those airway beacons before. I always wondered how people flew at night back then.

I have seen many of the white radio towers (like bowling pins)