Recent Photos of Northfield, MN GFA

None of the images are quite clear enough to show conclusively if the radar sail is still leaning up against the north wall of the building. The first west-looking view seems to show the top of the radar sail.

Update: Photos taken more recently (shown further down) reveal that the radar antenna is no longer on site. The antenna was still there when these aerial images were made, but not now.

Looking North

Looking East

Looking South

Looking West

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September 2018 photos by Tom Page

In this first photo, two things were immediately obvious: The grounds around the building had been cleaned up nicely, with the undergrowth and trees being removed. The AN/FPS-18 radar antenna, left on site and leaning on the building, was no longer present. A telephone conversation with the new owner revealed that thieves had stolen the sail a few years ago; presumably, they cut it up and sold it for scrap metal. [looking south]

The east end of the radar building showing the three tower foundations/footings. [looking southwest]

Another view of the east end of the radar building showing the tower foundations/footings. [looking west-southwest]

The inside of the "L," with the diesel-generator section on the left, and the radar-equipment section on the right. [looking northwest]

A view of the buiding's front side and west side. The radar-equipment section was on the left, and the diesel-generator section was on the right. [looking southeast]

The west side of the building. [looking east]

The south end of the building where the diesel generators were housed. [looking northeast]

Another view of the three radar-tower foundations/footings located at the east end of the building. [looking south-southeast]

Two sections of the radar-antenna supports were still on site, pointed to by the white arrows. [looking south-southeast]

Sign post showing the street address and the name of the new owner.

This final photo shows the neighbors behind the gap-filler radar site. I don't speak goat, but I think they were saying "feed me."

April 2009 photos contributed by Scott Murdock

The still-extant FPS-18 sail is seen in this and the following photos. It appears to be getting overgrown, but otherwise in good condition.

Note the apparently good condition of the antenna sail.

The following photos were taken recently at the abandoned gap-filler site just north of Northfield, MN. Photos by William Fischer.

Bill writes that: "If you look hard in one of the pictures, the antenna reflector and rotator devices are still there."

Ed. Note: I think this is the picture. I can see what appears to be the underneath side of the antenna platform just right of center.