ARLA/CLUSTER: RADIO ARCALA: The mammoth structure collapsed

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Message from the Arcala Group, OH8X
by Martti Laine, OH2BH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 6, 2013
Independence Day of the Republic of Finland


RADIO ARCALA LANDSCAPE IS ONE SHORT

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 during 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."