ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

VHF omnidirectional range

VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) is a way for pilots to help navigate when they're flying in an airplane. Think of it like a treasure map with an X marking the spot where you need to go.

The VOR system has a bunch of stations on the ground that send out signals in all directions. These signals kind of sound like beeps, and they come out of a special antenna. The antenna looks kind of like a big satellite dish, but it's not as big.

Now, imagine you're flying in a plane and you're holding a compass. That compass tells you which way you're facing, but it doesn't tell you where you need to go. That's where the VOR system comes in.

When you tune your airplane's radio to one of the ground stations, the beeping signals will make the needle on your compass point in a specific direction. That direction tells you which way you need to go to get to the station.

But wait, there's more! The VOR system also has something called "radials." Radials are imaginary lines that go out from the ground station in all directions. Think of them like slices of pizza, but they're all the same size.

So, when you tune your airplane's radio to a VOR station, the beeping signals will make the needle on your compass point in a specific direction, and you'll also be able to tell which radial you're flying on. This helps you figure out exactly where you are and where you need to go.

Overall, the VOR system is like having a treasure map with directions that beep at you when you're flying in a plane. It helps pilots figure out where they are and where they need to go by using special ground stations and compasses.