April 15, 1996

Mission Objective

T-39 Flight 02

• Practice aircraft coordination with DC-8 and ER-2.
• Establish ``comfort range'' of separation between the T-39 and DC-8 for plume/vortex penetrations.

Flight Log

TAKEOFF/LANDING:
The T-39 departed Salina at 17:03UT and returned at 19:28

FLIGHT REPORT:
The T-39 and DC-8 aircraft took off together and flew in formation to the experiment area. Once there, the DC-8 dropped back into the T-39 trail and sampled its exhaust emissions while the DC-8 pilots practiced coordinated maneuvers with the T-39. After completing a racetrack course, the T-39 dropped into the DC-8 trail and sampled as the DC-8 flew a series of racetracks over the CART site.

METEOROLOGY-REPORT:
Observed low level cumulus on takeoff and landing with clear skies in the mid to upper troposphere. Short contrails (1-2km) formed to the west of the CART site at 32k ft.

INSTRUMENT STATUS:

• CIMS - Not yet installed
• MS - Met/Nav system - worked (except for GPS)
• AMS - Air motion system - WORKED
• NDIR - CO2 - WORKED
• 3760 - fine CN - WORKED
• 3025 - ultra fine CN - WORKED
• FSSP - 0.3-20um aerosols - WORKED
• PCASP - 0.1-3um aerosols - WORKED

Highlights

• Accomplished low altitude rendezvous with the DC-8 and satisfactory formation flight.
• Made several dozen crossings of the DC-8 plume at separations of 0.8 to 8 miles.
• Observed large concentrations of volatile ultra fine particles at all distances behind the DC-8.

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