May 31, 1994

Vortex Aircraft Mission #6

Flight ID:

940531I

Flight Track:


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Flight Crew:

Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler         Flight Director:  Damiano
Doppler Radar:   Shepherd/Schneider     Pilots:           Ticknor/Kennedy
Cloud Physics:   Jacobs                 Data Technician:  Pradas
Observer:        Bluestein              Systems Engineer: Lynch
Media:           NHK Japan (2)


Takeoff Time: 2001 UTC                  Landing Time: 0136 UTC
Official Mission Duration: 5.8 hrs
Number of Data Tapes Used:  Radar: 1    Cloud Physics: 1        Video: 3

Data Systems Log

Radar Data System Log   Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
Tape #1                 2116                            Start LF
                        2135                            Start TA
                                        0054            Stop Recording


Cloud Physics Log       Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
                        2212            0110

Summary:

The preflight plan was to proceed northwest in the vicinity of Dodge City, KS for possible landspout senario. We would fly preconvective boxes along an east-east front, situated north of Garden City, until convection developed.

NOAA 43 departed OKC at 2001 UTC, northwestbound at 10,000'. The ground armada was in Beaver County in the Oklahoma panhandle. We descended to 1000' AGL north of Gage,OK and flew westward along US 270. We passed under a high based enhanced cumulus field near Elmwood, OK with stronger CBs to the north. We noted a weak convergence boundary (SSE winds becmg south) and an increase in dewpoint to 10C. We turned northbound (box pattern) at 102 W to look for the east-west frontal boundary. Southerly winds increased to 30kts. However,there was a general weakening of the wind near 37 N together with a TCU field. Maybe the front mixed out and relocated farther north. We turned eastbound at 38 N and encountered more vigorous convection near 101 W near Garden City KS which was actually being seeded by four aircraft as we passed. We had to deviate south around this cell because of small hail hitting the aircraft.

On our southbound leg, FC suggested another convective box centered on a position between Liberal and Dodge City, KS at half cloud base height (approximately 4000' AGL/6500' MSL). We executed east and northbound legs entering the convective mode on the westbound leg. We made five good passes on the convection observing a weak echo region. However, convection was mainly multicellular with high bases, and with the anvil spreading toward the southeast. It became increasingly difficult to maintain straight legs for Doppler acquisition because of intervening showers with possible hail. From 2300 to OO30 UTC, we made several passes on convection with marginal results finally exiting the region at 0034 UTC.

We arrived back at Will Rogers at 0136 UTC. The repeater power supply failed prior to takeoff today.

Irv Watson

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