DC-8 TEST-FLIGHT
OPERATIONS
FLIGHT PLAN
Takeoff was delayed one hour due to the butanol spill.
1. Take off: 2:00 LT (2100 UT).
2. Flight legs 1-6. These legs are generally from Ames to the North ending in
the middle of Oregon. We have requested an altitude of 37 kft on this leg so
that we are at maximum altitude, without crossing the tropopause. Our goal on
these flight legs is to fly through cirrus as much as possible. We plan to
operate the SRI lidar on these legs in a vertical position. However, we will
shut the lidar off when we enter Seattle air traffic control since we are
having difficulty with this center getting approval to operate the lidar.
3. At way point 6 we plan a set of three circular turns with a 30 o bank
angle. Each turn will be 100 feet lower than the previous turn. Our desire is
to cross our own contrail several times on these turns.
4. From way point 6 to 9 we would like to fly as high as possible. Our goal
is to enter the lower stratosphere, and also to fly as high as possible to
check for any instrument problems at altitude.
5. At way point 9-14 we will be in a restricted air space. We have three
goals in this region. (1) we wish to operate the lidar in a forward
scanning mode so that we can determine if the bearings are operating properly.
(2) we plan to perform calibration maneuvers for the MMS system (at this
time Stu Bowen will be in the jump seat so that he can advise the pilots on
the desired maneuvers. These consist of various yaw, roll and porpoise
maneuvers.) (3) we wish to perform another set of 30o banking turns to
cross our own exhaust when we are not laying a contrail. We will make one
large circle through this region at maximum altitude which we hope will be in
the stratosphere. We will repeat this process at about 20kft, for the MMS.
We will then do a short turning maneuver near 5kft also for MMS.
TAKEOFF/LANDING
The DC-8 left Ames at 21.00 UTC (2pm local time) and returned at 1.20 UTC
FLIGHT REPORT
Flight at 37 kft in northern CA was in lower stratosphere.
Descended to 35 kft to get to the upper troposphere, continued descending
as the aircarft turned north to 31 kft and held this altititude until the
restricted area
was reached. In restricted area descended to 4kft so that we could see some
marine stratus. DC-8 did lay contrail at 3-35kft in restricted area, but it
was not persistent enough to enter on a circle.
As we approached the restricted area, we descended to 4 kft to get into
stratus clouds. Executed box, and then 2 360 deg. turns to sample exhaust.
Then we ascended to 35 kft and did multiple turns. Attempted many different
altitude levels, but were not able to make a persistent contrail. However, we
did cross our plume multiple times and say NOy.
The MMS calibration was not a complete success. The pilots were not willing
to make maneuvers because of the butanol moving around in Hudson's instrument.
METEOROLOGY-REPORT
At take off broken fair weather cumulus were
present with scattered cirrus over Ames. Local cirrus were not predicted
earlier. Cirrus were not present over Oregon, or Northern California. The
trop was also significantly lower than expected, so part of the flight to the
north was in the stratosphere. We requested a descent into a low cloud deck,
probably around 20 kft on the south bound leg toward the restricted area.
INSTRUMENT STATUS
