Commonly called Dubois Municipal Airport (U41)
24 SL-GF Dubois DOCILF, site No. 24, Department of Commerce intermediate landing field on the Salt Lake-Great Falls airway.
AKA
site No. 23, Department of Commerce intermediate landing field
23 SL-GF Dubois DOCILF
Contract made 30th day of December 1927 to Alfred Frank
Sub-contract made 6th day of April 1928 between Alfred Frank and National Parks Airways (Inc.)
Observations and Notes
September 18, 2015 visit:
The Dubois Arrow/Beacon site is located at a small local airport in the town of Dubois, Idaho.
This site is unique in that it still has the complete arrow, the 51 foot beacon, and the original generator shed. This is only 1 of 2 that are original to the site, that we have found in the U.S. The concrete arrow, the 51 foot beacon, and the generator shed are all still in fairly good condition.
The electrical boxes that were used for the rotating beacon are still mounted on the interior wall of the shed, with some of the components still inside the boxes.
The generator shed is 12 feet wide & 14 feet long. The exposed portion of the arrow from the end of the generator shed to the tip of the arrow is 43 feet in length. Total lenght of arrow is 57 feet.
The pilot would approach the tail of the arrow on a compass heading of 3° (N), and then exit the arrow on a compass heading of 3° (N).
All measurements and compass headings are approximate.
*Due to the arrow being located at an active airport, the use of a drone is prohibited under Federal regulations.
June 27, 2018 visit:
This arrow is located at an airport making the use of a drone within 5 miles of it or any airport prohibited under Federal regulations without an FAA certification. Brian received his FAA Certified Drone Pilots License in December 2017, so we were able to take drone photos here on June 27, 2018 during Arrow Quest 2018 .
We flew the drone here twice. The first time was in the middle of the afternoon. We followed our standard drone flying practice for flying at or near airports.
The second time Greg Cobia and Kaarin Engelmann met us at the airport, and turned the beacon on so that we could get film of the beacon as it rotated. We launched just before sunset, and filmed for 7 minutes while the beacon rotated. This kept us within the civil twilight (30 minutes after sunset) FAA regulation, without needing another license to fly at night.
Restoration of 24 SL-GF Dubois DOCILF 2016-2017
Photos by Greg Cobia and Kaarin Engelmann
Greg and Kaarin undertook the task of cleaning, repairing and painting the Dubois Municipal Airport's concrete arrow, generator shed, and beacon tower.
They have done a great job of making it look like it did during the 1930's. A little step back in time. See the local TV report of their restoration by clicking here.
Dubois.—Department of Commerce intermediate field, (for day operation only), site 24, Salt Lake-Great Falls Airway. One-half mile S. of city on highway. Altitude, 5,158 feet. T shape, 178 acres; two landing strips, 4,800 by 1,000 feet N./S., and 2,800 by 1,100 feet E./W.; gravel, slightly sloping, natural drainage. Pole line to W.; cemetery in NE., corner. No servicing facilities.
Dubois.—Department of Commerce intermediate field, site 24, Salt Lake-Great Falls Airway. One-half mile S. of city on highway. Altitude. 5,158 feet. T shape, 178 acres, gravel, slightly rolling, natural drainage; two landing strips. 4,800 feet N./S. and 2,800 by 1.000 feet E./W. Directional arrow marked "24 SL-GF." Pole line to W., cemetery in NE. corner. Beacon and boundary lights. Beacon, 24-inch rotating, with green course lights flashing character- istic "4" (. . . .) No servicing facilities.
Dubois.—Department of Commerce intermediate field, Site 24, Salt Lake-Great Falls Airway. One half mile S. of city on highway. Altitude, 5,158 feet. T shape, 4,775 feet N./S., by 2,765 by 1,000 feet E./W.; entire field available, gravel, slightly sloping, natural drainage. Shed roof marked "24 SL-GF." Pole line to W.; cemetery in NE. corner. Beacon, approach, boundary and obstruction lights. Beacon, 36-inch rotating clear, with green course lights flashing characteristic "4" (. . . .). No servicing facilities.
Dubois.—Department of Commerce intermediate field, site 24, Salt Lake-Great Falls Airway. One-half mile S. of Dubois on highway. Altitude, 5,130 feet. T shape, gravel, slightly sloping, natural drainage; two landing strips. 4,775 feet N./S., 2,765 feet E./W.; entire field available. Shed roof marked "24 SL-GF." Pole line to W.; cemetery in NE. corner. Beacon, boundary, approach, and obstruction lights. Beacon, 36-inch, clear with green course lights flashing characteristic "4" (. . . .). No servicing facilities.
Dubois.—Department of Commerce Intermediate field, site 23, Salt Lake-Great Falls Airway. One-half mile S. of Dubois on highway. Lat. 44° 10'; long. 112° 13'. Alt 5,180 feet T-shape, gravel, slightly sloping, natural drainage; two landing strips, 4,775 feet N./S., 2,765 feet E./W.; entire field available. Shed roof marked "23 SL-GF." Pole line to W.; cemetery in NE. corner. Beacon, boundary, approach, and obstruction lights. Beacon, 36-inch rotating, showing alternate green and clear flashes. No servicing.
Dubois.—Department of Commerce intermediate field, site 23, Salt Lake-Great Falls Airway. One-half mile S. of Dubois on highway. Lat. 44° 10'; long. 112° 13'. Alt. 5,150 feet T-shape, gravel, slightly sloping, natural drainage; two landing strips, 4,775 feet N./S., 2,765 feet E./W.; entire field available. Shed roof marked "23 SL-GF." Pole line to W.; cemetery in NE. corner. Beacon, boundary, approach, and obstruction lights. Beacon, 24-inch rotating, with green course lights flashing characteristic signal "3" (. . . ). No servicing.
This site provides historical information only, do not use for navigation purposes.
Arrows and Beacons may be on private property, DO NOT TRESSPASS!
ALL photos are copyrighted and may not be used without written permission
other than for personal use.
