Toy? they were used a Carin Airfield, just a few miles from Ft
Rucker Alabama, for the US Army helicopter and US Air Force Air
Traffic
Controller schools. 2 million watts is not a toy. It had a 200 mile
maximum range, and was built by Westinghouse. two complete, hot
systems
that could be switched over at the flip of a switch, if there was any
problems. Five techs on duty, 24/7 doing routine maintenance, and
emergency repairs. If they went down, two schools and 17 airfields
were
shut down to all non instrument rated pilots.

The US Air Force's air traffic control school was and (assuming they
cleaned up after Katrina) is at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississipi. As
was the radar technician school. I was an Air Traffic Controller in
the Air Force from 1975-1982.

At no time did we use "live" radar. It was all simulation. Control
tower training (as opposed to radar training) consisted of students
holding toy airplanes in position as instructed over a ping-pong type
table which had been painted to resemble an airport. Some guys got
pretty good at imitating a cessna's engine noise. ; -)

Further, in both the Air Force and FAA, radar failures were and are
still common. That was one of the major issues that caused the
controller strike in 1982. We had to then convert to non radar
procedures. which consisted of, among other things, increasing
spacing and having the pilots report "fixes". Airports do not close
because of these failures. Non-Instrument rated pilots do not as a
rule use the ATC system except for radar advisories and controllers
provide this service to VFR pilots on a time permitting basis. The
exception is the airspace near large airports and certain other high
traffic areas.

Regards,

MickeyD