Flight ID:
- 950420I
Flight Track:
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Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler Flight Director: Damiano Doppler Radar: Shepherd Pilots: Kennedy/Tenneson Cloud Physics: --- Data Technician: Pradas Radiometer: Fedor Systems Engineer: Lynch/McNamara Observer: Irisov Takeoff Time: 1721 UTC Landing Time: 0024 UTC Official Mission Duration: 7.3 hrs Mission Breakdown VORTEX: 0.0 hrs ARM: 7.3 hrs Number of Data Tapes Used: Radar: 0 Cloud Physics: 1 Video: 3Data Systems Log
Radar Data System Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments NO RADAR DATA RECORDED DURING THIS MISSION Cloud Physics Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments 1725 0028 ETL Radiometer Log Time On (UTC) Time Off (UTC) Comments 1715 0029 Excellent data
The plan was to fly an ARM 'clear-air' flight to determine the
vertical as well as horizontal moisture distribution and to calibrate the
onboard radiometer with ground equipment and radiosonde soundings.
Takeoff was at 1721 UTC. We proceeded to the Purcell Boundary
Facility, beginning a sounding at 250 ft AGL at 1733 UTC to compare with the
Purcell sounding. Due to a heavy fuel load, the P-3 terminated the sounding
at 15,000 ft, and then did a sounding back to 250 ft AGL. Weather was
scattered Sc with bases at 4000 ft AGL.
We then proceeded to the Vici Boundary Facility at 500 ft AGL with
scattered Sc; then on to Hillsboro Boundary Facility with increasing
clouds becoming overcast Sc at the profiler site. Clouds thinned
considerably on the leg to the Morris Boundary Facility; then on to
the Central Facility (CF) where contact was made with the ARM folks on the
ground. The aircraft sounding began at 2032 UTC within minutes of the
CF sounding. The balloom was visible until we were directed westward by the
Vance AFB controllers. The top of the sounding was 24,000 ft; weather was
broken Sc with bases at 4,000 ft.
We continued our horizontal legs at 500 ft AGL returning to
Morris, then westward to Vici, and finally back to Purcell where an
aircraft sounding was performed to coincide with the 2330 UTC Purcell
Boundary Facility sounding. The top of the aircraft sounding was 30,400 ft;
weather was clear with Sc visible to the north. Since Purcell is in the
approach/departure corridor for Will Rogers, controllers diverted the
aircraft over Norman and then westward to near El Reno. We returned to
OKC at 0024 UTC, consuming 7.3 hours.
Irv Watson