Removing an antenna from Sears Tower

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I should have mentioned that the date had been pushed back several times due to winds aloft. The new antenna won't go up until after the Olympics as the local NBC station doesn't want to shut down during that period.

[Bob Bonczyk]

Watching this video really makes me like m
y job on the GROUND!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Bob,
On a clear day I can see your house.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Here is a link to the ABC website for the install of the new antenna. There are several short videos on the site showing various angles including one on the antenna and one helmet cam. The winds aloft picked up during the lift so it took a little longer than expected. It was going to be a two piece lift but since it took so long the helicopter had to go back to Midway Airport to refuel.
You will hear some of the reports talking about the "wedding cake". This was the first piece of the structure to secure the base to the top of the tower. That custom made piece was 4000 lbs. You can imagine an upside down cake when you look at it.
There are several videos on the page in this link. Kal Hassen is the Director of Engineering for WLS, a great guy and has been a standard in Chicago broadcasting for many years.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...ion&id=8837352

BTW, today was an interesting day for weather up high in Chicago. I will post some pictures when I get them transferred.

[NXTGeek]

Ha! What those guys did is nothing! I almost watched the WHOLE video...