[PVRCNC] Tower collapse

[AA4NC@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/30/02 2:13:34 AM GMT Daylight Time, k4qpl@bellsouth.net 
writes:

>  I have a hard time even imagining a tower this size.
>  >

We live in the middle of big tower land here in Raleigh. There are at least a 
dozen towers between 1900' and 2000' in eastern NC/VA/SC. 4 are visible from 
ground level in downtown Raleigh. I have to dodge these suckers regularly in 
the airplane...

To see a truly awesome tower, drive out US 70 past Garner and take a look at 
the WRAL tower. It's the closest one of three towers to the road. When the 
original one fell (I was told it weighed 4 million pounds), they put up a 
REALLY big one that would take the icing plus allow them to do HDTV. A 
contractor that used to work for me told me that it was the strongest tower 
ever designed in the US at the time. I don't doubt it when you look at it 
compared to its two neighboring TV towers. 

To get a bird's eye view, you might talk to Mike Bezera WB4TQD or whoever is 
the current repeater guru. I think they still have a repeater up there near 
the top. You can go on a maintenance mission and ride up the elevator with 
him. I did that many years ago on the old tower. It looks so much higher from 
the tower than it does in an airplane looking down for some reason!

Will