Repackaging the SPOL radar to ship via USAF C-5 aircraft to Brazilia, Brazil. Three of the 6 shipping containers

with the SPOL radar were too heavy for the small K-loader used to off load the plane in Brazil. Several large

and many small parts had to be removed and put on single pallets. If you had any doubt, those C-5's are BIG!

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Much of the unloading was done directly to pallets with a crane.

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Some of the unloading was done by hand and winches to get heavy parts onto pallets.

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The inside of the C5 aircraft is huge. We loaded 6 sea containers, 3 on each side, 4 pallets and a 30 foot K-loader.

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Brazil

The SPOL radar is located on a cattle ranch pasture. The area had to be graveled and fenced.

A first-class outhouse with flush toilets and showers was built (the blue building) on the site.

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In late December and early January the radar was assembled. Joe and Jeff are putting together the reflector dish struts, the pedestal is in the background. The rented crane was the only one in the state of Rondonia.

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Scientists, Wilson and Rutledge, with support staff in the radar operations center during setup.

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Looking west from the hotel over Ji-Parana.

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Looking east from the hotel at the main highway bridge in Ji-Parana.

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The TOGA radar was located on a ranch hilltop northwest of Ji-Parana. The views from there were incredible.

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All the ranch land in this area of Brazil was created by burning way the rainforest. Only small pockets of forest are

left. This part of Brazil has had a healthy regrowth of grass to replace the trees, but it will probably never be the same.

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During operations at the TOGA radar two students went to lunch with disastrous results. At the intersection of the

main highway a big truck, while passing traffic, ran over the front of the car. Both students escaped unharmed.

Earl Williams, pictured, had loaned the car to the students and said it was his second wrecked rental in the last year.

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After being setup and operational for 2 months the site was taken down and repackaged to ship back to Boulder.

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