Why Are These Funny Looking Things In Wyoming?

Have you ever seen this funny thing while driving cross country?

There used to be a lot more of them.

If you are into conspiracies, then let's say it's part of an elaborate government mind control plan (it's not).

While many are being decommissioned around the nation a few will remain in operation as backups.

That includes almost all of them in states like Wyoming.

If you don't know, by now you're screaming at me.

WHAT ARE THEY?

They are called VORs. (VHF Omni Directional Radio Range).

Before we had GPS, which is run by satellites, this is how airplane pilots navigated.

Not too long ago there was no such thing as a moving map on a screen.

So pilots would tune into one of these things as they flew along their route.

Each VOR has its own radio frequency that is published on the pilot's map.

Those funny-looking posts on the outer edge break up the signal much like spokes on a wheel, providing a compass for the pilot to use for navigation.

The pilot would then turn a dial on the device in the cockpit until the needle pointed to the way he wanted to go.

He would then turn toward the direction that the needle was pointing.

He will know that he is going the right way when the needle is pointing straight up and down on the device.

He would then fly that radial until he was within range of the next VOR, and tune into that one, and so on, across the country.

You can see one of these if you are driving along Interstate 25, between Douglas and Glendo Wyoming. It's on the West side of the highway.

There are many others out there that can be seen from roads and hilltops if you are paying attention.

In the video below the FAA explains why they are taking down most VORs in America.

But VORs in Wyoming will never be shut down, because Wyoming and other western states are so rural, that this kind of navigational backup is needed.

So now you know what you are looking at, the next time you see one.