Murry Green, K3BEQ wrote:
"---I doubt that any antenna is going to last over 70 years."

There are numerous medium wave broadcast arrays in operation
continuously since 1934, the year of the famous communications act of
1934, and some still stand from years earlier. They receive inspections,
repair, and repainting as required to keep them highly visible.

A two-meter band antenna constructed of stainless steel by a quality
manufacturer should be at least as durable. 1934 was too early in the
use of 2 meters to provide many examples to prove the point.

I worked 26 years for a corporation which used many VHF ground planes
including 2-meter types. Nearly all were supplied by Andrew Corporation.
They were folded monopoles and withstood repeated lightning strikes
decade after decade. They were permanent and like the broadcast antennas
, they received inspections and infrequent repairs when rarely required,
but they weren`t painted.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI