Ground Level

A few years back I looked around to see what windmills (primarily water pumps) were still up working. I remember one that was up 80+ feet and it stood well above the farm buildings and trees and the owners always had a hard time getting the help to climb the steel tower (I believe it to be a commercial Areomotor) and check the gearbox and add oil if needed. They would offer a day off with pay. Sometimes it went long periods unchecked. It was still there then, working. It never blew over in storms. I wondered why. Now I know. Ground turbulence causes destructive forces. It is high enough to be above that. Also something I learned climbing telephone poles in Viet Nam - when you get up 80+ feet on a still day there is a breeze up there. So all the better reason to go 80+ feet with a tower.

The Nebraska type is at somewhat of a disadvantage there since it is usually on the ground. But, they were built on and in buildings at the top floors also, but of course at more expense. One much resembles a merry-go-round of the kind found in school playgrounds in the 1950's, the one where the kids kicked the ground to make it go around in a circle with kid power. The better versions built in buildings did have shutters or sliding doors with which to shut off the wind to protect the mill during storms, and a water tank above so the same building served as a water tower as well so that water could be piped under pressure.

Offered by Darrell.