{"id":32586375,"date":"2026-11-13T10:06:29","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T09:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T10:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T09:06:43","slug":"vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/","title":{"rendered":"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Guide Aircraft Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background .15s,color .15s}\r\n.mfsh-trigger:hover,.mfsh-trigger:focus-visible{background:#0F1720;color:#fff;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-trigger svg{width:18px;height:18px;display:block;flex-shrink:0}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-bottom{margin:8px 0 28px}\r\n.mfsh-meta{position:relative;padding-right:190px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;margin:0;height:30px;padding:0 8.9px;font-size:13px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta svg{width:16px;height:16px}\r\n.mfsh-overlay{position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(15,23,32,.55);z-index:99999;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:center;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}\r\n.mfsh-sheet{width:100%;max-width:520px;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;padding:18px 20px 28px;transform:translateY(24px);transition:transform .22s;box-shadow:0 12px 32px rgba(15,23,32,.25);font-family:inherit;max-height:92vh;overflow:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open .mfsh-sheet{transform:none}\r\n@media (min-width:640px){.mfsh-overlay{align-items:center}.mfsh-sheet{padding-bottom:20px}}\r\n.mfsh-head{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin:0 0 14px}\r\n.mfsh-head strong{font-size:18px;font-weight:800;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-head strong svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-close{background:none;border:0;padding:6px;margin:0;cursor:pointer;color:#0F1720;line-height:0;box-shadow:none}\r\n.mfsh-close svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-preview{display:grid;grid-template-columns:96px 1fr;gap:12px;border:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:#F5F7FB;padding:10px;margin:0 0 12px;align-items:center}\r\n.mfsh-preview img{width:96px;height:72px;object-fit:cover;display:block;margin:0}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-kicker{font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5C91FF;margin:0 0 4px;line-height:1.2}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-title{font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;margin:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-list{display:grid;margin:0;padding:0}\r\n.mfsh-item{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px;height:50px;width:100%;border:0;border-top:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:none;padding:0 4px;margin:0;text-align:left;font-family:inherit;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;color:#0F1720;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-item:hover,.mfsh-item:focus-visible{background:#F5F7FB;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-item svg{width:20px;height:20px;color:#5C91FF;flex-shrink:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-item small{margin-left:auto;color:#5B6674;font-weight:500;font-size:12px}\r\n.mfsh-item.mfsh-done svg{color:#1E9E5A}\r\n.mfsh-toast{position:fixed;left:50%;bottom:32px;transform:translate(-50%,10px);background:#0F1720;color:#fff;padding:10px 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:13px;font-family:inherit;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s,transform .2s;z-index:100000}\r\n.mfsh-toast.mfsh-show{opacity:1;transform:translate(-50%,0)}\r\n@media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.mfsh-overlay,.mfsh-sheet,.mfsh-toast,.mfsh-trigger{transition:none}}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<svg width=\"0\" height=\"0\" style=\"position:absolute\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-share\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M12 3v12M8 7l4-4 4 4M5 12v8h14v-8\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"m5 5 14 14M19 5 5 19\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-wa\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-8.6 15.1L2 22l5.1-1.3A10 10 0 1 0 12 2Zm0 1.8a8.2 8.2 0 1 1-4.2 15.3l-.3-.2-3 .8.8-2.9-.2-.3A8.2 8.2 0 0 1 12 3.8Zm-3 4.4c-.2 0-.5 0-.8.4-.3.3-1 1-1 2.4s1 2.8 1.2 3c.1.2 2 3.2 5 4.4 2.5 1 3 .8 3.5.7.5 0 1.7-.7 2-1.4.2-.7.2-1.3.1-1.4l-.5-.3-2-1c-.3 0-.5-.1-.7.2l-.9 1.1c-.2.2-.3.2-.6.1-.3-.2-1.3-.5-2.4-1.5-.9-.8-1.5-1.8-1.7-2-.2-.4 0-.5.2-.7l.4-.5.3-.5v-.5l-.9-2.2c-.2-.5-.4-.5-.6-.5H9Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-x\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M17.8 3h3l-6.7 7.7L22 21h-6.2l-4.8-6.3L5.4 21h-3l7.2-8.2L2 3h6.3l4.4 5.8L17.8 3Zm-1.1 16.2h1.7L7.4 4.7H5.6l11.1 14.5Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-fb\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M13.5 22v-8h2.7l.4-3.2h-3.1V8.8c0-.9.3-1.6 1.6-1.6h1.7V4.4c-.3 0-1.3-.1-2.5-.1-2.5 0-4.1 1.5-4.1 4.2v2.3H7.4V14h2.8v8h3.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-li\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 8.5H3V21h3.5V8.5ZM4.8 3a2 2 0 1 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 0-4ZM21 13.4c0-3.4-1.8-5.2-4.5-5.2-1.6 0-2.7.8-3.2 1.7V8.5H9.9V21h3.4v-6.4c0-1.7.6-2.8 2.1-2.8 1.4 0 2 1 2 2.8V21H21v-7.6Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-rd\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M22 12.1a2.4 2.4 0 0 0-4.1-1.7 11.7 11.7 0 0 0-5.5-1.7l1-4.5 3.1.7a1.7 1.7 0 1 0 .2-1l-3.6-.8a.5.5 0 0 0-.6.4l-1.1 5.2a11.8 11.8 0 0 0-5.8 1.7A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 3 14.3v.5c0 3.4 4 6.2 9 6.2s9-2.8 9-6.2v-.5a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 1-2.2ZM7.5 13.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 3.4 0 1.7 1.7 0 0 1-3.4 0Zm8.9 4.5c-1.2 1.2-3.4 1.3-4.4 1.3s-3.3-.1-4.4-1.3a.5.5 0 0 1 .7-.7c.7.8 2.4 1 3.7 1s2.9-.2 3.7-1a.5.5 0 0 1 .7.7Zm-.6-2.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 0-3.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 0 3.4Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-tg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.9 4.6 18.7 19.9c-.2 1-.9 1.3-1.7.8l-4.9-3.6-2.3 2.3c-.3.3-.5.5-1 .5l.4-5 9-8.2c.4-.3-.1-.5-.6-.2L6.4 13.5 1.6 12c-1-.3-1.1-1 .2-1.5l18.8-7.2c.9-.3 1.6.2 1.3 1.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-mail\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"M3 6h18v12H3z\"\/><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"m3 7 9 6 9-6\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-link\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M10 14a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 0l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-5.7-5.7l-1.5 1.5M14 10a4 4 0 0 0-5.7 0l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 5.7l1.5-1.5\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-more\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><circle cx=\"5\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"19\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n<\/svg>\r\n<span class=\"mfsh-top-slot\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger\" data-mfsh-placement=\"top\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button><\/span>\r\n<script>\r\n(function(){\r\n  if (window.__mfsh) return; window.__mfsh = true;\r\n  var SECTION = 'afterburner';\r\n  function meta(p){ var m=document.querySelector('meta[property=\"'+p+'\"]'); return m ? m.getAttribute('content') : ''; }\r\n  function pageUrl(){ var c=document.querySelector('link[rel=\"canonical\"]'); return (c && c.href) || (location.origin + location.pathname); }\r\n  function pageTitle(){ var h=document.querySelector('h1.entry-title'); return (h && h.textContent.trim()) || meta('og:title') || document.title; }\r\n  function slug(){ return location.pathname.replace(\/\\\/+$\/,'').split('\/').pop() || 'home'; }\r\n  function kicker(){ var c=document.querySelector('.et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category tag\"], .et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category\"], a[rel=\"category tag\"]'); return 'Afterburner' + (c && c.textContent.trim() ? ' \u00b7 ' + c.textContent.trim() : ''); }\r\n  function shareUrl(ch, placement){ return pageUrl() + '?utm_source=share&utm_medium=' + ch + '&utm_campaign=' + SECTION + '&utm_content=sheet_' + placement; }\r\n  function track(ch, placement, extra){\r\n    window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];\r\n    var ev = { event:'share', share_channel:ch, share_variant:'sheet', share_placement:placement, page_section:SECTION, content_id:slug() };\r\n    if (extra) for (var k in extra) ev[k]=extra[k];\r\n    window.dataLayer.push(ev);\r\n  }\r\n  var CH = [\r\n    ['whatsapp','WhatsApp','mfsh-i-wa',''],\r\n    ['x','X','mfsh-i-x',''],\r\n    ['facebook','Facebook','mfsh-i-fb',''],\r\n    ['linkedin','LinkedIn','mfsh-i-li',''],\r\n    ['reddit','Reddit','mfsh-i-rd','r\/aviation, r\/WarplanePorn'],\r\n    ['telegram','Telegram','mfsh-i-tg',''],\r\n    ['email','Email','mfsh-i-mail',''],\r\n    ['copy','Copy link','mfsh-i-link',''],\r\n    ['native','More','mfsh-i-more','Instagram, Signal, AirDrop']\r\n  ];\r\n  var overlay, toastEl, toastT, placement = 'top';\r\n  function build(){\r\n    overlay = document.createElement('div'); overlay.className = 'mfsh-overlay'; overlay.setAttribute('role','dialog'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-modal','true'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-label','Share');\r\n    var img = meta('og:image');\r\n    var items = CH.filter(function(c){ return c[0] !== 'native' || !!navigator.share; }).map(function(c){\r\n      return '<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-item\" data-mfsh-ch=\"'+c[0]+'\"><svg><use href=\"#'+c[2]+'\"\/><\/svg>'+c[1]+(c[3]?'<small>'+c[3]+'<\/small>':'')+'<\/button>';\r\n    }).join('');\r\n    overlay.innerHTML = '<div class=\"mfsh-sheet\"><div class=\"mfsh-head\"><strong><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share<\/strong><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-close\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-preview\">' + (img ? '<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"'+img+'\" alt=\"\">' : '<span><\/span>') + '<div><div class=\"mfsh-kicker\">'+kicker()+'<\/div><span class=\"mfsh-title\">'+pageTitle()+'<\/span><\/div><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-list\">'+items+'<\/div><\/div>';\r\n    document.body.appendChild(overlay);\r\n    toastEl = document.createElement('div'); toastEl.className = 'mfsh-toast'; document.body.appendChild(toastEl);\r\n    overlay.addEventListener('click', function(e){\r\n      if (e.target === overlay || e.target.closest('.mfsh-close')) { close(); return; }\r\n      var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-item'); if (b) act(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-ch'), b);\r\n    });\r\n    document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){ if (e.key === 'Escape') close(); });\r\n  }\r\n  function open(p){ placement = p || 'top'; if (!overlay) build(); overlay.classList.add('mfsh-open'); track('open', placement); }\r\n  function close(){ if (overlay) overlay.classList.remove('mfsh-open'); }\r\n  function toast(m){ toastEl.textContent = m; toastEl.classList.add('mfsh-show'); clearTimeout(toastT); toastT = setTimeout(function(){ toastEl.classList.remove('mfsh-show'); }, 1600); }\r\n  function act(ch, btn){\r\n    var url = shareUrl(ch, placement), t = pageTitle(), enc = encodeURIComponent;\r\n    if (ch === 'copy') {\r\n      var done = function(){ toast('Link copied'); btn.classList.add('mfsh-done'); setTimeout(function(){ btn.classList.remove('mfsh-done'); close(); }, 900); };\r\n      track(ch, placement);\r\n      if (navigator.clipboard && navigator.clipboard.writeText) navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(done, done); else done();\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    if (ch === 'native') {\r\n      track(ch, placement, { share_result:'opened' });\r\n      navigator.share({ title:t, text:t, url:url }).then(function(){ track('native', placement, { share_result:'completed' }); close(); }).catch(function(){});\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    var target = {\r\n      whatsapp: 'https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=' + enc(t + ' ' + url),\r\n      x:        'https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=' + enc(t) + '&url=' + enc(url) + '&via=MiGFlug',\r\n      facebook: 'https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=' + enc(url),\r\n      linkedin: 'https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=' + enc(url),\r\n      reddit:   'https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=' + enc(url) + '&title=' + enc(t),\r\n      telegram: 'https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=' + enc(url) + '&text=' + enc(t),\r\n      email:    'mailto:?subject=' + enc(t) + '&body=' + enc('Thought you would like this, from Afterburner, MiGFlug\\'s magazine:\\n' + t + '\\n' + url)\r\n    }[ch];\r\n    track(ch, placement);\r\n    if (target) { if (ch === 'email') location.href = target; else window.open(target, '_blank', 'noopener,width=680,height=560'); }\r\n    close();\r\n  }\r\n  var mq = window.matchMedia('(min-width:981px)');\r\n  function place(){\r\n    var t = document.querySelector('.mfsh-trigger[data-mfsh-placement=\"top\"]'), slot = document.querySelector('.mfsh-top-slot');\r\n    var meta = [].slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('.et_pb_title_meta_container, .et_post_meta_wrapper .post-meta, .single .post-meta')).filter(function(m){ return m.offsetParent !== null; })[0];\r\n    if (!t || !slot) return;\r\n    if (meta && mq.matches) { meta.classList.add('mfsh-meta'); t.classList.add('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== meta) meta.appendChild(t); var a = meta.querySelector('a'); if (a) { var pr = document.createElement('span'); pr.style.cssText = 'display:inline-block;width:0;height:0;vertical-align:baseline'; a.appendChild(pr); var base = pr.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; pr.remove(); var fs = parseFloat(getComputedStyle(a).fontSize) || 14, mb = meta.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; t.style.bottom = Math.max(0, mb - (base + fs * 0.12)) + 'px'; } }\r\n    else { t.classList.remove('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== slot) slot.appendChild(t); }\r\n  }\r\n  if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', place); else place(); window.addEventListener('load', place); if (document.fonts && document.fonts.ready) document.fonts.ready.then(place); window.addEventListener('resize', place);\r\n  if (mq.addEventListener) mq.addEventListener('change', place); else mq.addListener(place);\r\n  document.addEventListener('click', function(e){ var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-trigger'); if (b) { e.preventDefault(); open(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-placement') || 'top'); } });\r\n})();\r\n<\/script><!-- \/mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<p>Drive through farmland in Europe or North America and you may pass something that looks like a landed flying saucer: a flat metal disc on stilts, ringed with small white domes, with a little hut underneath. It is not a radar and it is not listening to anyone. It is a VOR, and for more than seventy years it has been quietly telling every aircraft within range exactly which direction it lies from the station.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>VOR stands for VHF omnidirectional range. It was the backbone of airway navigation from the late 1940s onward, and despite GPS it is still in use today. In the United States, the FAA is switching many stations off, but deliberately keeping a core network alive. Here is how VOR navigation works, why pilots trust it, and why it is not dead yet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border:1px solid #e2e7ee;padding:18px 22px;margin:22px 0 26px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>System:<\/strong> VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), ground-based radio navigation aid<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Frequency band:<\/strong> 108.0 to 117.95 MHz<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Tells the pilot:<\/strong> Magnetic bearing from the station (the radial); 360 radials<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Accuracy:<\/strong> Generally plus or minus 1 degree, per the FAA<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Identification:<\/strong> Three-letter Morse code identifier, sometimes voice<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Distance:<\/strong> Added by co-located DME; up to 199 NM, slant range<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Variants:<\/strong> Conventional VOR, Doppler VOR (DVOR), VOR\/DME, VORTAC<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>US network:<\/strong> 594 VORs planned for retention under the Minimum Operational Network<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">A lighthouse made of radio<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The easiest way to picture a VOR is as a lighthouse with two lights. One is a flash that goes out in every direction at the same moment. The other is a beam that sweeps steadily around the compass. If you time the gap between the flash and the moment the beam passes you, you know your direction from the lighthouse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>A VOR does the same thing with two 30 Hz radio signals on a single VHF frequency between 108.0 and 117.95 MHz. One, the reference signal, is identical in every direction. The other, the variable signal, changes its phase depending on the direction it is radiated. The receiver in the aircraft compares the two, and the phase difference is the aircraft&rsquo;s bearing from the station, measured from magnetic north.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/berry-head-dvor-dme-devon.jpg\" alt=\"Ring of white antenna domes of the Berry Head Doppler VOR rising above hedges on the English coast\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">The Berry Head DVOR on the English coast. The ring of white domes is the circular antenna array that a Doppler VOR switches electronically; the site also carries DME and an NDB. Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Berry_Head_DVOR_-_geograph.org.uk_-_940050.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mike White \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>That bearing is called a radial. A VOR offers 360 of them, one for each degree. An aircraft on the 090 radial is due east of the station, magnetically speaking, whichever way its nose is pointing. That is the key advantage over the older non-directional beacon: a VOR radial does not change with wind or with the aircraft&rsquo;s heading.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Old and new stations<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Early VORs created the rotating signal with a slightly directional antenna that spun, electrically, 30 times a second. Modern stations are usually Doppler VORs, or DVORs. They use a large circle of antennas, typically dozens of them, with no moving parts. The signal is switched around the ring electronically, and the Doppler effect of that apparent motion creates the bearing information. The ring is what gives a DVOR its flying-saucer look.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Every VOR also transmits a three-letter Morse code identifier, usually named after a nearby town or airport. That matters more than it sounds, because pilots must be sure they are tuned to the right station before trusting its needle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;The only positive method of identifying a VOR is by its Morse Code identification or by the recorded automatic voice identification which is always indicated by use of the word &ldquo;VOR&rdquo; following the range&rsquo;s name.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>FAA Aeronautical Information Manual<\/strong> &mdash; Chapter 1, paragraph 1-1-3, VHF Omni-directional Range<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wuLTppemEgA\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">Pilot and YouTuber Captain Joe explains what a VOR is and how pilots use it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What the pilot sees<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>In a light aircraft, the classic VOR display is a round instrument with a knob called the omni bearing selector. The pilot dials in the course they want, and a vertical needle, the course deviation indicator, shows whether the aircraft is left or right of it. Keep the needle centred and you are on the radial.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>A small TO\/FROM flag resolves the obvious ambiguity: whether flying that course would take you towards the station or away from it. More advanced aircraft show the same information on a radio magnetic indicator or a horizontal situation indicator, which combines it with a heading card in a form much closer to a simple moving map.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;The accuracy of course alignment of the VOR is excellent, being generally plus or minus 1 degree.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>FAA Aeronautical Information Manual<\/strong> &mdash; Chapter 1, paragraph 1-1-3, on VOR accuracy<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The accuracy is the reason VORs built the airway system. Two radials from two different stations cross at a single point, giving a position fix. Lines from station to station became the airways, known in the United States as Victor airways below 18,000 feet and jet routes above it, and for decades instrument flying meant hopping from one VOR to the next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Adding distance: DME and TACAN<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A VOR tells you direction, not distance. For that, many stations are paired with distance measuring equipment, or DME. The aircraft sends out pairs of pulses, the ground station answers on a different frequency, and the aircraft times the round trip. According to the FAA, DME can work out to 199 nautical miles with an accuracy better than half a mile or 3 percent of the distance, whichever is greater. It measures slant range, so an aircraft directly over the station at 6,000 feet reads about one mile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/vor-dme-lbe-haselau-germany.jpg\" alt=\"Small VOR\/DME ground station with a white cylindrical antenna on a flat counterpoise behind a wooden fence in winter\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">The LBE VOR\/DME at Haselau in northern Germany, a compact station that gives aircraft both a radial and a distance. Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:VOR-DME_(LBE)_Haselau_01.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Huhu Uet \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A radial plus a DME distance gives a position from a single station. Where the military is involved, VORs are often co-located with TACAN, the military system that provides both bearing and distance to military aircraft. The combined site is called a VORTAC. Afterburner explains the military side in <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tacan-explained-tactical-air-navigation-military-jets\/\">TACAN Explained: How Military Jets Find Their Way Home<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Line of sight, and its limits<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>VHF radio travels in straight lines, so a VOR only works where the aircraft can, in effect, see the antenna. The FAA notes that range varies with the altitude of the receiving aircraft. That is the same physics that limits radar, explained in <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/radar-horizon-why-flying-under-the-radar-is-literal\/\">Radar Horizon: Why Flying Under the Radar Is Literal<\/a>. A low-flying aircraft behind a hill can lose a station that a jet at cruising altitude receives clearly from far away.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R0Vzaf14SKQ\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">Test and measurement company Rohde &amp; Schwarz explains the principles of the VOR.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Switching off, but not all the way<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Satellite navigation made much of the VOR network redundant. Under its VOR Minimum Operational Network programme, the FAA discontinued 82 VORs between fiscal years 2016 and 2020 and planned to discontinue 220 more between 2021 and 2030, according to an FAA briefing at Oshkosh in 2025. At that point, 200 had been switched off, and 594 VORs were planned for retention.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The survivors are not random. The FAA says the network will give nearly continuous VOR coverage at 5,000 feet above ground across the lower 48 states outside the western mountains, where the network is not being changed, and that a MON airport with an ILS or VOR approach will always be within 100 nautical miles. AOPA notes that all VORs in Alaska, the western mountainous area and the US islands and territories are being kept.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The reason is simple: GPS can fail or be jammed. Afterburner reported on one example in <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/gps-jamming-los-angeles-united-airlines-interference-2026\/\">GPS Jamming Over Los Angeles<\/a>. When satellites go quiet, a pilot can still tune a VOR, centre a needle and fly to a runway, exactly as pilots have done since the 1950s. The flying saucers in the fields are an insurance policy, and the FAA has decided it is one worth keeping.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>Sources: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Chapter 1, Section 1), FAA VOR MON briefing (Oshkosh 2025), AOPA<\/em><\/p>\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<p class=\"mf-photo-credits\" data-no-translation style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;font-style:italic;margin:6px 0 18px\">Header photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Drehfunkfeuer_Sulz_(DVOR)-2696-Bearbeitet.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DKrieger \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What is VOR navigation?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">VOR navigation uses a VHF omnidirectional range, a ground radio station operating between 108.0 and 117.95 MHz. It transmits a reference signal and a variable signal; the aircraft&rsquo;s receiver compares their phase to work out its magnetic bearing from the station, called a radial. A VOR offers 360 radials.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What is a VOR radial?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A VOR radial is a magnetic bearing from the station outwards. An aircraft on the 090 radial is magnetically east of the VOR regardless of its heading. Pilots select a course with the omni bearing selector and keep the course deviation needle centred to fly along a radial.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How accurate is a VOR?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">According to the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, the accuracy of VOR course alignment is generally plus or minus 1 degree. Some stations show minor roughness, especially in mountainous terrain, and certain propeller or rotor speeds can make the needle fluctuate.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What is the difference between VOR, VOR\/DME and VORTAC?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A VOR gives only bearing. A VOR\/DME adds distance measuring equipment, which measures slant range by timing radio pulses, so one station gives a full position. A VORTAC combines a VOR with a military TACAN, whose distance function civil DME receivers can also use.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Is the FAA shutting down VORs?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Partly. Under the VOR Minimum Operational Network programme the FAA discontinued 82 VORs from fiscal 2016 to 2020 and planned 220 more by 2030. By 2025, 200 had been switched off and 594 were planned for retention as a backup if GPS becomes unavailable.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why do VORs only work at certain ranges?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">VORs use VHF radio, which travels in straight lines, so reception depends on line of sight between the station and the aircraft. The FAA notes that range varies with the altitude of the receiving aircraft, so a high-flying jet receives a station much farther away than a low-flying light aircraft.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is VOR navigation?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"VOR navigation uses a VHF omnidirectional range, a ground radio station operating between 108.0 and 117.95 MHz. It transmits a reference signal and a variable signal; the aircraft\u2019s receiver compares their phase to work out its magnetic bearing from the station, called a radial. A VOR offers 360 radials.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is a VOR radial?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A VOR radial is a magnetic bearing from the station outwards. An aircraft on the 090 radial is magnetically east of the VOR regardless of its heading. Pilots select a course with the omni bearing selector and keep the course deviation needle centred to fly along a radial.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How accurate is a VOR?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"According to the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, the accuracy of VOR course alignment is generally plus or minus 1 degree. Some stations show minor roughness, especially in mountainous terrain, and certain propeller or rotor speeds can make the needle fluctuate.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between VOR, VOR\/DME and VORTAC?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A VOR gives only bearing. A VOR\/DME adds distance measuring equipment, which measures slant range by timing radio pulses, so one station gives a full position. A VORTAC combines a VOR with a military TACAN, whose distance function civil DME receivers can also use.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the FAA shutting down VORs?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Partly. Under the VOR Minimum Operational Network programme the FAA discontinued 82 VORs from fiscal 2016 to 2020 and planned 220 more by 2030. By 2025, 200 had been switched off and 594 were planned for retention as a backup if GPS becomes unavailable.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why do VORs only work at certain ranges?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"VORs use VHF radio, which travels in straight lines, so reception depends on line of sight between the station and the aircraft. The FAA notes that range varies with the altitude of the receiving aircraft, so a high-flying jet receives a station much farther away than a low-flying light aircraft.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tacan-explained-tactical-air-navigation-military-jets\/\">TACAN Explained: How Military Jets Find Their Way Home<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/how-pilots-navigate-without-gps-dead-reckoning-loran-ins\/\">Dead Reckoning, LORAN and INS: How Pilots Fly Without GPS<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/instrument-landing-system-ils-explained-localizer-glideslope-cat-iii\/\">Instrument Landing System: How ILS Guides Airliners Through Fog<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/holding-patterns-explained-racetrack-entries-heathrow-stacks\/\">Holding Patterns Explained: Why Airliners Circle Before Landing<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<!--mfcred1-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VOR navigation explained: how a VHF omnidirectional range turns two radio signals into 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA keeps 594 VORs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":32586253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[665],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32586375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aviation-world"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Work | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VOR navigation explained: how VHF omnidirectional range stations create 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA is keeping 594 VORs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Work | MiGFlug\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"VOR navigation explained: how VHF omnidirectional range stations create 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA is keeping 594 VORs.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Afterburner - MiGFlug&#039;s Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-13T09:06:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-13T09:06:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\"},\"headline\":\"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Guide Aircraft Home\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-13T09:06:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-13T09:06:43+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1675,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Aviation World\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/\",\"name\":\"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Work | MiGFlug\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-13T09:06:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-13T09:06:43+00:00\",\"description\":\"VOR navigation explained: how VHF omnidirectional range stations create 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA is keeping 594 VORs.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Doppler VOR station with a raised circular counterpoise and ring of white antenna domes standing in a harvested field near Sulz am Neckar, Germany\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Guide Aircraft Home\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"name\":\"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine\",\"description\":\"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"width\":897,\"height\":278,\"caption\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MiGFlug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/migflug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/migflug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/MiGFlug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/migflug.com\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.ch\\\/migflug\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\",\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Connor Kerr\"},\"description\":\"Connor Kerr writes MiGFlug\u2019s long-form features \u2014 aviation history, how-it-works explainers and the stories behind the headlines.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/author\\\/connorkerr\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Work | MiGFlug","description":"VOR navigation explained: how VHF omnidirectional range stations create 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA is keeping 594 VORs.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Work | MiGFlug","og_description":"VOR navigation explained: how VHF omnidirectional range stations create 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA is keeping 594 VORs.","og_url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/","og_site_name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","article_published_time":"2026-11-13T09:06:29+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-11-13T09:06:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Connor Kerr","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@migflug","twitter_site":"@migflug","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Connor Kerr","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/"},"author":{"name":"Connor Kerr","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9"},"headline":"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Guide Aircraft Home","datePublished":"2026-11-13T09:06:29+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-13T09:06:43+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/"},"wordCount":1675,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg","articleSection":["Aviation World"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/","name":"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Work | MiGFlug","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg","datePublished":"2026-11-13T09:06:29+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-13T09:06:43+00:00","description":"VOR navigation explained: how VHF omnidirectional range stations create 360 radials, how DME adds distance, and why the FAA is keeping 594 VORs.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dvor-doppler-vor-sulz-germany-antenna-array.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"caption":"Doppler VOR station with a raised circular counterpoise and ring of white antenna domes standing in a harvested field near Sulz am Neckar, Germany"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vor-navigation-explained-vhf-omnidirectional-range-radials-dme-mon\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"VOR Navigation Explained: How Radials Guide Aircraft Home"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","description":"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization","name":"MiGFlug GmbH","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","width":897,"height":278,"caption":"MiGFlug GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","https:\/\/x.com\/migflug","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/migflug\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MiGFlug","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/migflug.com\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ch\/migflug\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9","name":"Connor Kerr","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Connor Kerr"},"description":"Connor Kerr writes MiGFlug\u2019s long-form features \u2014 aviation history, how-it-works explainers and the stories behind the headlines.","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/author\/connorkerr\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32586375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32586375"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32586375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32586462,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32586375\/revisions\/32586462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32586253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32586375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32586375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32586375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}