In the early days of aviation, pilots in open-cockpit, bi-wing planes had to wing it (nyuk, nyuk) on navigation. There were no radios. No control towers. No radar. No GPS. The maps weren't all that great, either. And, unfolding a map in an open cockpit was challenging at best. Navigation was by compass and visual landmarks.
Pilot Butte was the landmark pilots zeroed in on when they were flying into Bend, OR. There was a windsock on a tall wooden pole atop the Butte to assist pilots when they landed in a nearby meadow that had been cleared of debris.
The Butte is a 500' cinder cone in Bend, OR, with a road and hiking trails up to the top. Great views from the top, many snow capped mountains in sight, including Mt Adams, 150 miles away. The City does its July 4th fireworks display there; above picture shows it being set up.
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