Submitted at(UTC): 2008/10/01 23:08
Flight remains VFR throughout, clear-air only Plan: Climb to FL175 for high-level legs, 15 minutes Descend to FL155 for wind maneuvers Descend to 3000' AGL for Wyoming radar circles Descending into boundary layer for 15 minute run Sawtooth in and out of the boundary layer All times are UTC Conditions of the ground. Clear skies. Cu Sct over mountains 20:35 TAKE-OFF: Head to NW, turn to N, climbing to FL175 Boundary layer top around 8000', dry adiabatic in BL and above in polluted layer up to 15000', clean above Hazy at top of MBL, concentrations PCASP 3000-4000 /cm3, above MBL at 1000 /cm3, drop-off to 100-200 /cm3 above. Low RH throughout maxing at around 40-50% at tops of two layers Freezing level 5km 20:50 level off at 17500', T= -4 C, Td=-20 C, clean layer, PCASP 200 /cm3 20:50 10 min run at 17500' 21:00 descend to 15500', 21:01-21-20 Conduct Lenschow maneuvers, pitch, yaw, speed, reverse 21:20 Descend to 3000' AGL (8000') for radar circles 21:30-21:40 Banked circles at 40 degree roll 21:40 Straight and level run at 6500' (2000' AGL) 21:58 Climb to 12000' in slow sawtooth 22:03 Sawtooth descent to 1500' AGL, bumpy at 10500' 22:06 Sawtooth ascent to 12000', boundary layer top 8000'. Hazy to south. Fires. PCASP 2000-2500 /cm3 22:15 Heading home, PCASP very high (4000-5000 /cm3) 22:30 Descending into air field 22:36 LAND, Rocky Mtn. Airport. Issues: RAF CN counter not operational throughout Ozone/CO not operated UWYO ultrafine CN pump not switched on Problems with CSU collector No fast FSSP Few problems with UH instruments. Most other instruments worked well.