Just saw this article about a helicopter crashing into one of K1TO's towers
(at 150 feet). As you probably know, no lighting is required unless the
tower is at 200 feet or near an airport.
Sad to see this happen. I had a friend in Alaska (Frank KL7FH, husband of
Corliss AL1G and father of Chris KL9A) who had two 125-foot towers in
Willow, AK. Even though it wasn't required, he added solar powered lights to
both towers. He actually worked for the FAA inspecting towers and running
down RFI issues. One of his duties was to determine if a tower required
lighting and so had another FAA employee certify his towers were in
compliance.
https://wirelessestimator.com/articles/2026/mosquito-control-pilot-killed-af
ter-helicopter-strikes-150-foot-amateur-radio-operators-tower-in-myakka-city
-fl/
Those guys were crazy! They would climb those towers and do antenna work in
sub-freezing temperatures!
Sadly, Frank fell and hit his head in a bar one night and even though he
didn't immediately experience any issues, fell into a coma that night and
died a few days later. I was at the hospital with Corliss AL1G the next day
and other friends. Saddest time I spent while working in Alaska because
another ham who was a doctor had died about the same time after being hit by
a snow mobile while snow sledding on his way to treat patients in another
part of Alaska.
Frank was a great CW op and you can see where Chris got his chops. Corliss
operates CW also and is in most big contests when she's not working or
playing percussion in the symphony.
I do miss Alaska a lot. I had a lot of fun doing contests with my club call
KL5DX (Alaska Contest Club). Anchorage has a very active ham radio community
and ham radio club KL7AA. The Anchorage Amateur Radio Club (AARC) had a
yearly minimum budget of $70,000 just to keep the doors open. They had a
great station with lots of equipment, a large, fully equipped RV will many
radios in it and supported other ham clubs in Alaska. They got most of their
income from having half ownership in a bingo parlor somewhere in Anchorage.
73/161,
Allen R. Brier N5XZ
ARRL Life Member
Texas DX Society - President/Newsletter Editor
10-10 #4530 - Life Member
Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club - Life Member/past Vice President
1515 Windloch Lane, Richmond, TX 77406 USA
713-705-4801- [email protected]
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