HIPPO III: Research Flight 10 - Northern Polar Regions

April 15, 2010

RF10 from Anchorage towards the North Pole completed 5 dips, including missed approaches at Fairbanks Airport and in Deadhorse Airport. They had clear weather over most of the track, contrary to extensive cloudiness prediction (low cloud deck was present for about 300 miles North of Fairbanks). The HIPPO Team observed extensive network of fractures in the ice, with three 5 minute legs flown at 500', crossing a large number of the open leads. The G-V was able to ascend soon after turning around at 85°N and reached 45,000', taking a long stratospheric leg back to Anchorage.