Access Android phone/tablet from computer remotely and securely. Manage SMS, files, photos and videos, WhatsApp, Line, WeChat and more on computer. Adobe AIR plugin for Tune. Contribute to BranchMetrics/air-plugin development by creating an account on GitHub.
Plugins Airmail List
Scattered across American deserts, plains, sometimes fields, sometimes in the middle of nowhere: giant arrows made from concrete. The mysterious arrow signs were kind of forgotten for some time, but recently explorers rekindled their for discovering more and more of the arrows all over the United States.
Horse express, railroad mail, and finally airmail
The vast distance between America’s Atlantic and Pacific coast was covered first by horse-mounted riders relaying the mail. The 1860 Pony Express was advertised to take only 10 days from coast to coast. This time was decreased by railroad in late 1800s.
But introduction of airmail changed everything. Airplanes were much faster than railroad, but still relatively slow back in 1920s. Airco DH.4 was a typical airmail machine, and its maximum speed was 143 mph (230 km/h). Airplanes could travel only in daylight. These were times long before GPS and satellite navigation. It was only 20 years after Wright Brothers’ maiden flight, but aircraft were already commonly used for mail delivery.
Concrete arrows are constructed
The arrows were constructed as Transcontinental Airway System between 1923 and 1934. Funded in 1923 by U.S. Congress, they connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in 1924, and in 1933 the system reached a total 1500 beacons, and 18,000 miles of routes. This helped to decrease mail delivery time from coast to coast to only 3 days. Enthusiastic journalist back in December 1923 wrote an article about “Lighted Airway over Atlantic” (Popular Mechanics).
Each beacon consisted of giant concrete arrow 50-70 feet long pointing to the next beacon, and the 50-foot beacon tower with rotating light mounted at its top. The concrete arrows were painted bright yellow, and were illuminated by the tower light. Additionally, in the first year of operation 89 emergency airfields were established. Some beacons featured more than one arrow. The beacon stations were built 10-25 miles apart, depending on terrain situation. They were far apart on plains, and denser in mountainous terrain.
In the 1930s radio technology had improved, navigational aids were introduced, and low-frequency radio range was developed. Visual navigation by landmarks and concrete arrows was not a necessity anymore. With prices rising during Great Depression, the system was defunded, and after working in limited capacity for some years, finally rendered obsolete, and closed down.
Concrete arrow airmail beacons today
Many towers have been dismantled since 1940s. Some of concrete arrows were demolished in 1940s on purpose in case of enemy invasion, to hinder enemy aircraft visually navigating across the United States. Some of the arrows were consumed by new development, or just overgrown by grass. Only a few were developed into local landmarks by communities, but their popularity gains traction with explorers, travelers and wanderers. And hopefully, they won’t be forgotten.
Example of beacons as seen in Google Maps satellite view (2020)
You can find a detailed map of beacons here. Only places marked in red feature beacons that can still be found today.
Fact sources:
- Piloting the U.S. Air Mail: Flying for Uncle Sam by Lewis Edwin Theiss (1927)
- The American Aviation Experience: A History by Tim Brady (2000)
- The Journal of Air Traffic Control Association
Top image: Airmail navigation concrete arrow in St. George, Utah (Photo by Dppowell / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA)
- 1.8
- 1.9
- 1.10
- 1.11
- 1.12
- 1.13
- 1.14
- 1.15
- 1.16
- Source Code:
- https://gitlab.com/sword7/starmail
- Languages Supported:
- Russian, French, German, Polish, Chinese
- Donation Link:
- https://www.paypal.me/devsword7
By default, players can send three types of mail: letters, written books, and packages. However, players with the mail.custom permission can send any item as mail.
Letters:
Letters will only be enabled in setups using Minecraft 1.14 and up. Letters are similar to books, but can be crafted for cheaper. Unlike books, letter can not be placed in lecterns or used in other crafting recipes, such as those for copying written books.
Letters use the new custom model data to work with the Star Mail resource pack downloadable here.
Packages:
Packages are used to send groups of items in the mail. Right click with an empty package to open up a menu. Place the items you want to send in the menu, then click on the seal button. Once the package is sealed, the items will be tracked using the tracking number on the item.
Right click on a sealed package will open a menu. Click on any string to cut it and open the package. Once opened, all the items can be collected by clicking on the fishing pole, or by closing the menu. Once the package is empty, it will be consumed in a poof of smoke.
Packages can also be used to decorate. Right click on an empty package while sneaking to place it! Sealed packages can not be placed.
Tracking & Expiration:
Information about both packages and sent mail are tracked and stored while the server is offline. To prevent large amounts of data from building up, a tracking expiration is used. This prevents inactive mail from taking up lots of space. By default, mail and packages are tracked for 30 days. The number of days until expiration is configurable in the config.yml file.
Mailbox:
To register a mailboxes, players simply need to place a mailbox block. By default, each player can register one mailbox. Clicking on your mailbox will open a menu for viewing and collecting received mail.
Clicking on another player's mailbox will open a menu. Insert a valid mail item and click the arrow to send mail.
Mailboxes will will send the owning player notifications when mail is received and shortly after joining. Players can disable these notifications in the mailbox menu.
Plugin Air Freshener Allergies
GlobalBox:
The globalbox is a globally usable mailbox. Interacting with a globalbox will open the mail collection menu.
Postbox:
The postbox is a block that allows players to send mail to any other player. Interacting with the block will open a menu for inserting, addressing, and sending mail.
Email:
Star Mail makes it possible to access and send mail from anywhere. Players with sufficient permission can send mail using the /sento [player] command. The /mailbox command will open a virtual mailbox to access sent mail.
Dynmap:
Star Mail is compatible with Dynamp. Dynmap is web based map for Minecraft servers. You can download it here.
Enjoy!