UPDATE - Unrelated to the OH8X storm (which struck on December 1st), one of the masts at OZ5E suffered wind damage during another storm (Bodil) on December 5. Info and pics here.
December 8, 2013 — Few days ago we reported the collapse of the world’s largest amateur antenna (a huge 3ele 160m yagi @ OH8X).
Here’s the full report by Jarmo, OH2BN:
While driving to the Arctic region north of the city of Oulu at 65degrees North, you will now find the wintry landscape more naked than before. Something is missing from the landscape, a reflection of the challenges facing the stormy and icy North. Sorrow has descended on the population of the village of Arkala.
It was the recent storm Oskari creating gusts of up to 68 knots (78MPH) that not only knocked down the massive 330ft (100m) 40+ ton 160/80M array but also left 200.000 homes in Finland without electricity. The mammoth structure collapsed peacefully, not hitting any of the other six towers, not hurting people or damaging buildings.
As professional engineering efforts had up to now ensured the survival of this 5-year old structure, inspectors are busy trying to evaluate the cause of the failure. It is suspected that automation designed to enable the array to find its most comfortable position in high winds somehow locked up and caused the structure to corkscrew. Consequently the giant crumbled down on its on base just like the WTC building in those other sad years.
But life goes on at Radio Arcala at OH8X and you may soon hear Santa Claus from the North of Finland bringing you the joy of Christmas in the form of OF9X, beaming over the North Pole on 20 meters and capitalizing on the famous Polar Path during the Holiday Season.
Thank you for your interest in Radio Arcala and many of its unforgettable endeavors. In summary, we would like to share with you this short poem and these consoling words of wisdom from the late Professor Hugh Cassidy, WA6AUD:
“The grief we feel we cannot tell. A sad day it was as our tower fell.”
