# What is the giant sombrero thing at DFW for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 5, 2007, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829 "2007-04-05T04:53:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829/1 "2007-04-05T04:53:01Z")

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Title says it all. At one of the entrances to DFW International Airport in Dallas, there is a structure that looks like a cross between some kind of antenna and Paul Bunyan’s favorite wide-brimmed hat. My two theories are:

[ol]  
[li]Some kind of navigational antenna, like a VORTAC array[/li][li]Just a cool thing to put at the entrance to impress people[/li][li]Hi Opal![/li][/ol]

Anybody know?

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829/2 "2007-04-05T05:18:56Z")

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Oh, and a [picture](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.896944,-97.038056&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=32.869168,-97.040356&spn=0.001018,0.001824&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr) via Google Maps. Afraid I don’t have one from a people’s eye view, but the shadow on the ground gives you some indication of it’s general shape.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829/3 "2007-04-05T10:41:40Z")

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That would be the Maverick VOR/DME, identifier TTT, operating on frequency 113.1

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829/4 "2007-04-05T10:53:31Z")

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[QUOTE=LSLGuy]  
That would be the Maverick VOR/DME, identifier TTT, operating on frequency 113.1  
[/QUOTE]

Ah, so my first guess was correct! (Well, assuming it also functions as a TACAN station for the military as many VOR/DMEs do)

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-giant-sombrero-thing-at-dfw-for/398829/5 "2007-04-08T14:59:30Z")

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No. It is a VOR/DME, not a VORTAC. There is a difference. And yes, VORTACs are far more common than VOR/DMEs, so many folks blur the distinction. Which distinction is moot anyhow unless you fly for the military.

Bottom line: You were as close as one can get just by looking at it. The distinction between a VORTAC & a VOR/DME is not apparent from the antenna configuration, and is of interest only to pedants & military pilots.