Explosive height record revisited by Controlled Demolition

Controlled Demolition Inc has set a new height record on 20 September when it use explosives to bring down a 490 m (1,905 ft) TV transmission tower near White Lake in the state of North Carolina, USA. The tower had belonged to Raycon Media and relayed TV signals for many years until new digital technology saw it being superseded three years ago.

In 2011, the tower and its surrounding 77 acre site was donated to the Green Beret Foundation, a charity that assists families of wounded and killed US special forces personnel. The land is being sold to raise funds for the charity, and the 1,000 tonnes of steel that made up the tower will also be sold off, although its value has yet to be determined. Controlled Demolition gave its time and expertise for free for the blowdown.

Two separate charges were used to bring the tower down. The first severed a number of support guys, with the second, from 9.6 kg (21 lb) of explosives, severed one of the tower's supporting legs to bring the structure to the ground.