Short Final: Seeing The Light

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 06:38 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Barry McCollom shares an anecdote about his great-grandfather, a Texas Ranger from 1890.
The Ranger innovated a navigation technique by tying a lantern to his saddle to see in the dark while pursuing an outlaw.
This method, described as the "first known use of Saddle Light Navigation," allowed him to follow his target into the night.

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From IFR Magazine reader Barry McCollom, of Kerrville, Texas

My great grandfather was a Texas Ranger in 1890. One day he was following an outlaw into a dark night. He tied a lantern to his saddle so he could see where he was going. It is the first know use of Saddle Light Navigation.