FPS-67 FAA Search Radar

The FPS-67 was maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration. These guys were all super-sharp, and very skilled. I always learned something new every time I went to this tower. We often lent our muscles to their loading dock, or went up to watch the RAPPI of the Q-47 radar digitizer during a PACE (Performance Assessment through Continuous Evaluation) Flight. A T-33 airplane would fly through all the radar sites, and each would have to report his exact three dimensional coordinates (Azimuth, Range, and Altitude). The Q-47 was the size of two refridgerators, and replaced a living-room size of tube equipment. The building on the left is the Diesel Power Plant, and Operations is on the right. The radar site was run with commercial power, but could switch to diesel in less than a second.