While working local Control (tower) as a newly minted Air Force controller in the ’60s, I often got requests from local pilots for practice DF steers, [our location] having one of the last DFs in the area. The DF console was located on the opposite side of the tower from Local, and I had a number of T-33s trying to land when the following exchange occurred:
T-33:
“Laughlin Tower, AF123. Request practice DF steer.”
Me:
“AF123, unable on account of traffic.”
[long pause]
T-33:
“Then how about a real one?”
Of course, I issued the steer.
Ray Laughinghouse
via e-mail
