Yes, the droop is normal. Note the middle driven element has not been installed in this picture. The tree has to be removed.

A completed element. 30M & 40M beam operation is achieved by pushing the beryllium tape through the sweep and down the "return" side, creating a resonant folded element. Thus these elements are only 40 feet wide instead of the 62 feet that would be required if they where straight out.

Rubber boots hold the elements into the EHU sockets.

Assembling an inner guide and support tube that is slid into the large end of the element tubes to provide a consistent diameter for the beryllium tape that must slide in and out.

After assembling 1 of the active elements on the grass by the tower in about 3 hours, assembly was moved into Steve & Linda's shop where an assembly line could be set up, as there are 6 of these to make. Time was reduced to about 1 hour per unit.

There is a lot of electronics and relays that go into this antenna. Pictured is Gary W7TYQ that came up to help from Yreka CA.

Control lines from each active element and the coax switching relays come together into junction terminals.