Operation Megalithic Lift - The Stones and the Stars: Building Scotland's Newest Megalith - page 195

heavier loads were to be carried during the Falklands conflict, 3
years later, but as David Proffitt told us on his return from it, few
of the aircraft concerned were fit for operational use afterwards.)
Arranging for the stones to be weighed proved remarkably difficult.
To justify hiring tracked vehicles, dump trucks, etc., we were told
we had to transport all the stones from Ruchill to Sighthill, and
even then we were allowed to weigh only three of the stones as a
sample (Fig. 7.6 ) . I protested strongly against the extra work that
would generate and the uncertainty it would introduce, but to no
avail. Cost was the only consideration.
It meant that, knowing the weight of only three stones, I had
to measure the maximum dimensions of all 22, calculate their
weights as rectangular blocks, and compare the three known
weights with the results. On average, they came out one-third
lighter than rectangular blocks would be. Taking off one-quarter
of each such weight for the other 19 stones, to be on the safe side,
it became clear that some of the stones were much heavier than
the quarry had estimated, because of the irregularities in their
shape, and some would be too heavy for the Sea King to lift even
with a light fuel load. The largest stone weighed over 4½ tons
(Fig. 7.7 ). On that basis, six stones in all would be too heavy for
the helicopter.
One useful check was that we had been given two figures for
the density of whinstone: 114.24 lb/c.ft (2.9 g/c.cm, but we weren't
using those on this project), or 123.9 lb/c.ft. The lower figure came
out correct for the weights for the three stones that had been weighed,
showing that my estimates of their linear dimensions were also very
close. The higher figure couldn't be made to tally at all.
By October 1978 work had begun on Sighthill Park, and
access was a great deal more easy. The helicopter operation could
have been dropped, but symbolically and as a means of generat-
ing public interest it seemed too good to pass up. As Thom had
told us that the largest stones should be used to mark the lunar
alignments, for authenticity, we allocated seven stones to the heli-
copter: the solar stones, the contemporary star alignment, and the
central stone. The lunar stones and the historical star alignment
would be placed in position by Sportsworks, the contractors for
the park, using JCBs, and would be cemented in place so that the
foundations were ready for the helicopter's stones to be positioned.