The above Photo shows
what was left after a "mini-cyclone", in 1976, at the
QTH of VK5KK/AKM @ Wasleys, South Australia. The Closest tower
shows a TH3 twisted up (as they do!) with a 2 metre colinear and
6 metre beam, originally above it, now firmly planted into the
tower! If you look very closely you will see one of the 6m beam's
dislodged elements caught in the tower braces below it!
The other towers
survived this blow, to the left is a pair of 16 element yagis for
144 MHz with a 16 element KLM in between. To the Right is a 10
element 2 m vertical with a 3 foot dish below it on 1296 MHz. The
1296 MHz set up was the same used to hear the VK6WG/VK5QR 1296
MHz world record later that year and VK6KZ a year later.
The damaged tower had 2
x 8 element yagis on 6 Metres (!!) installed on it in 1977 ...
these lasted til late 1979 when an even stronger blast (a freak
170 kmh thundersquall, with a 5km wide path, causing $20m of
damage!) flattened the tops of both towers! The problems of
living on a hill, open to the elements. The tower on the left was
also hit by lightning in 1981! Since then various combinations
have been seen on both tower's, with more conservative wind
profiles ... the smaller tower on the right was replaced with a
3rd 50 foot Windmill tower in 1990.
