[TowerTalk] Sad Day at OH8X

[KM5VI]

I was saddened to hear that 160m tower at OH8X recently collapsed in a
winter storm.

Matt
KM5VI

http://dx-world.net/2013/oh8x-tower-collapse/

>> 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 ring 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."