WB-57 Flight Report for 7/11/02

Update as of 2000 EDT 020711


1.  Today's flight was a significant success and we met all of our objectives.  In spite of a very uncooperative door in the 
hangar, we were able to get the flight off in time to meet the Terra overpass, and we flew 10 legs through the clouds at 
various altitudes and a spiral descent beginning at 51 kft.  During the flight, the instruments sampled various complex 
cirrus-cloud structures at a number of altitudes.  The aircraft had to return a little earlier than planned due to 
threatening weather in Key West.  During the debrief, Ed Schneider noted that the waypoint names (alpha, bravo, etc.) were 
very helpful, and that the coordination with other aircraft was very good.  Shelley Hilden noted that there were no 
instrument fail lights!


2.  The aircraft left Key West at 11:51a EDT, and returned at approximately 4:52p EDT.


3.  The next flight opportunity is Saturday, 13 July).  The flight objective will be similar to today's goal (to study 
Florida cirrus anvils). 

4.  Our thanks go to the WB-57F crew and operations personnel for doing an outstanding job today, especially in making up the
time lost trying to get the hangar door open.  In addition, we want to thank Tom Thompson and Karen Rosenlof for researching 
and acquiring the software used to track the aircraft's flight path.  This will be a tremendous tool during the campaign, for 
the WB-57F as well as the other aircraft.  We also want to thank Ed Schneider and Shelley Hilden for their great flying!


Randy, Marty, and Dave