posted
| Date of Mission: | 08 August, 1998 |
| Daily Mission Scientist: | Anthony Guillory |
| Deputy Mission Scientist: | Frank LaFontaine |
| Project Scientist: | Robbie Hood |
| Nowcasters: | Bart Geerts Richard Wohlman |
| ER2 Tail Number: | NASA 806 |
| Sortie: | 98-108 |
| CAMEX-3 Flight Number: | 98-02 |
| Pilot: | Jan Nystrom |
| Take Off: | 1600 UTC (98/08/08) |
| Landing: | 1954 UTC (98/05/08) |
| Duration: | 3.90 hrs |
Convection over Florida within range of S-POL and rain gauge network and Andros Island overflight for NAST-I calibration with cal/val site.
The flight proceeded as planned. The ER-2 was launched at 1600 UTC with landing a 2000 UTC. The pilot opted to deviate from flight plan during climb out to fly over some nearby convection just NW of Cape Canaveral and then flew the three planned flight legs over the peninsula parallel to the sea breeze front.
The sea breeze from was expected to develop farther inland due to deep easterly flow with convection being more isolated than that of the past two days. The convection along the ER-2 flight was slower to develop than anticpated but some convection was captured by the onboard instruments. Convection began in ernest just after the ER-2 departed Florida for Andros. Andros weather as reported by the pilot was cloudy; however the Andros cal/val site reported on scatter cumulus in the area.
Communication with S-POL failed using the DFRC radio. Contact was established using a handheld radio outside of S-POL facility; however, this was poor at best. Communication to Andros was marginally successful also. The cal/val site could hear the pilot but could only communicate with him through a relay with the local ATC (or similar). Instruments: All instruments worked except NAST-I and LIP-C. NAST-M had a problem with the cover on one of its loads and MAMS was cold soaked and suffered a data recorder problem. Overall the mission was succesful in getting commnications issues to light and collected some data over scattered convection over Florida.
UCF sondes at 1030 UTC and 1900 UTC (first attempt failed at 1800 UTC). Note: MLB radar down (past several days) until just prior to completion of the three flight legs.
NAST-I and LIP-C failures. Significant communications problems exist between the ER-2 and S-POL.
NAST-I, NAST-M and LIP-C working to resolve their problems. MAMS problems resolved. Need to obtain a better radio for an S-POL communications.
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