[TowerTalk] Homemade portable mast

[Gary K9GS]

25 years ago we used the aluminum military mast sections to support a Cushcraft A3 at 25 feet or so on a trip to Miquelon (FP). We had 50 mph winds and no problems.  I think we guyed at 3 levels with 4 way guys.  Very well anchored on the beach. W6GJB designed a really cool "jack" for extending the mast vertically.  I sure wish he would publish the construction details.73,Gary K9GS
-------- Original message --------From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> Date: 8/29/19  9:19 PM  (GMT-06:00) To: towertalk at contesting.com Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Homemade portable mast On 8/29/2019 4:22 PM, Keith Dutson wrote:> I doubt the aluminum poles will support that beam.  I tried to put up a Force 12 C3 at 20 feet for field day, but the poles had too much flex and bent like a wet noodle.How high were you trying to go? How did you support the mast? For years, we've used the Al mast sections with a tripod fitting to rig a C3SS at 30 ft or so for FD, 7QP, CQP. Photos in k9yc.com/7QP.pdf  Once in the air, we guy it. W6GJB found a vendor selling the tripod fittings at Dayton one year. As I recall, this was one of the tricks that K7JA showed in talk at Visalia or Pacificon that was a collection of good ideas. W6GJB is a pilot, and he found some real neat fittings that can be driven into almost any ground to tie down small aircraft. I think google for tiedown or tydown.73, Jim K9YC______________________________________________________________________________________________TowerTalk mailing listTowerTalk at contesting.comhttp://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk