[TowerTalk] Homebrew Tower for 500lbs load help needed

[John Barrett]

I'm looking to design a freestanding tower that can support up to 500lbs of load at 50 feet with a wind loading of approx 40 sqft and 100 mph survivability. Guy wires are not an option for the location we must use. I have a few problems to solve and am not finding much in the way of references online to work out all the details. 

1> what kind of pipe/tubing to use (diameter/thickness) -- assuming that the "mast" will be a single run of pipe (welded and reinforced with smaller tube inside at the joints if needed).. This has to be able to support the 500lbs dead weight load in the tilt-down position if a tiltover is recommended. Stepping the pipe size down as we get higher is ok (unless a carraige setup is recommended)

2> footing recomendations -- how wide a hole and how deep ? 

3> should I look at a tilt and crank-up design to reduce the stresses when raising/lowering the tower ?? or perhaps a "carraige" design where the load is pulled up the tower after it is erect ??

This is obviousy overkill for an antenna tower :) and while there will be antennas on it., it will mostly be used to support a wind turbine. (that is until I build the 2nd one to support a stacked beam :)

now I just need the references or some advice to work out the rest :)