Climbing a 96 Year Old Abandoned Airmail Tower

On our most recent trip to one of my favorite little aviation history gems. I figured i'd do a video climbing to the top of the old airport beacon tower.
This airport has a ton of history, and i'm excited to share the next video on our planes for this amazing historical location.
#aviation #aviationlovers #aviationhistory

[@es2061]

That's definitely cool. I would have climbed it too. Also looks like a great place to fly around.

[@SirDrifto]

@@es2061 it's a blast to fly around

[@Flyboy7688]

The beacon at Cable Airport in Upland, California is one of those beacons. Back in the late 1940's or Early 1950's after the Beacons were no longer use. Duey Cable and a few friends got permission to disassemble one of the lights that was no longer in use and move it to Cable Airport. If I remember, this was one of the lights that was east of Barstow, CA. The light at Cable Airport is still in use every night. Having flown for over 50 years out of Cable airport, this is the brightest Beacon light in the inland valley, I can still pick it out when returning from a trip at night, because it is the brightest rotating beacon along the base of the mountains, and it is visible as much as 50 miles away, even with all the built up of streets lights around the airports area. My Father flew the mail in the mid 1930's in the mid-west using a Lockhead Vega owned by Hanford Airlines.

[@SirDrifto]

@@Flyboy7688 that is fascinating

[@TranscendianIntendor]

Awesome.

[@dennistowne457]

Those beacons have been in use for years. I maintained one at the San Jose Int’l airport for 20 years. They are very reliable units and built to last.

[@SirDrifto]

Any suggestions on getting glass and motor parts for one?

[@dennistowne457]

@@SirDrifto Try ADB airfield lighting solutions. I ordered a replacement beacon from them before I retired in 17. The old one went back as a core. The replacements now use a belt drive instead of the worm drive. From what I could see yours was like ours. Two slip rings, brush holders and a long shaft motor. Good luck with your project.

[@MacGWA]

Thanks for featuring another airmail route beacon! Cool stuff!

[@SirDrifto]

Thanks for watching!

[@bob1therace]

The triangle is the direction to the next beacon

[@paulbrunner1818]

That’s a perfect airport project for the RAF to take on.

[@multirotormanish7220]

That is a so cool! The concrete arrow on the ground is still in great shape. Would be cool to be able to own that airport! Fly on......

[@SirDrifto]

It’s in wonderful shape for the age

[@Mike-01234]

I work for a electric utility while I wasn't a tower climber worked closely with them we had a few guys end up falling off small towers one ended up paralyzed he laid on the ground for hours until someone noticed he wasn't getting back to them. Good idea to get a safety harness and lanyards with duel hooks. Then you can hook to the tower as you climb done right won't slow you down. It makes it easier to work on the tower because you can hang from the harness and use both hands to work on something. It will cost $1000 for new setup or you can go used on eBay at a good price. Companies like ours replace them every 5 years even if they sit on a shelf.

[@silent1967]

I don't see much corrosion or rust just weather beaten paint. Looks like a pretty arid dry area. We will all be long gone and your great great great grandkids would probably still be able to climb it. A lot of things were made better back then.

[@David.Ephraim]

Was in palenque, mexico and theres this old watertower. Ladder looked rusty but it held. Good view from up there :)

[@olsurferguy1]

The airways and beacons used Morse Code letters of the alphabet so the pilots (knowing, of course, which airmail route they were flying) would know where they were along the route at night. If the pilot saw a green light flashing a dash, dot, dot, dot, he would know that the “B” was at such and such location along the route, with “C” up ahead and fly towards it. The ground arrows, obviously, indicated which direction to maintain while flying during the daylight hours. They were painted yellow to orange-ish. The towers were installed every 15 miles, sometimes more, the pilots would maintain visual contact depending on the visibility.

[@SirDrifto]

Very cool info

[@davidfinney-gm3ij]

I would climbing that. But only on two things 1. If it is not windy. 2. To raise money for a good course

[@SirDrifto]

@@davidfinney-gm3ij those are two pretty valid reasons.

[@davidfinney-gm3ij]

@@SirDrifto Thank you?

[@richvalenzi6232]

Where is this located?

[@WarrenKimpel]

nice video thanks

[@SirDrifto]

@@WarrenKimpel thanks for watching

[@DavZZee]

Woulda been somthin if that electrical box had a big ol’ hornets nest inside when you opened it

[@SirDrifto]

@@DavZZee pretty sure I'd go flying off the tower 😆

[@WarrenKimpel]

I do not want to be critical but you should use a safety harness when climbing, something I do more the older I get

[@SirDrifto]

@@WarrenKimpel frankly its not a bad idea, especially with the random gusts of wind.

[@atatterson6992]

That's no fun. Kinda like wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle. A buncha panty wastes these days...

[@t.j.h2810]

Who keeps the wind sock changed out ??

[@SirDrifto]

Airport manager

[@Andykev]

I was cringing watching you climb the tower, all the while thinking the thin metal framework after 100 years of rust or corrsion might fail, or those rotted wood deck at the top could fail and .... We have a "dual" arrow near me in Walnut Creek CA used by pilots flying from Oakland to Sacramento . It is sadly covered with graffitti.

[@SirDrifto]

That thought did cross my mind a few times 🤣

[@atatterson6992]

Of course it is covered with graffiti... awfully close to the center of Gavin's omnipotent universe

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

Someone watched the movie ‘Fall’ I see.

[@SirDrifto]

@@thepodbaydoorshal I need to see this movie.

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

@@SirDrifto Don’t waste your time, it’s trash. But has the same basic premise.

[@TranscendianIntendor]

He, they might have been better to wear a climbing harness and clip onto the structure on the way up. I've wondered if any other guys get that feeling in the crotch? I say my balls hurt, is the way I put it.