Palmdale to Offutt AFB Transit with Science
Flight Date:
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sortie Number:
11-6036
Take Off Time:
Fri, 04/22/2011 - 19:19
Landing Time:
Sat, 04/23/2011 - 01:13
Flight Hours Used:
5.90
This transit flight to Offutt AFB was combined with data collection over Southeastern Oklahoma. Initial expectations were low for significant convective activities. However, the ER-2 arrived to find a classic squall line of moderate to severe thunderstorm activity. Several lines parallel with the activity were flown with the UND Citation aircraft, and an excellent data set was collected. Lessons were learned regarding aircraft communications, and there are some anomalies being worked involving the HIWRAP instrument and the ER-2 TACAN. But these will not ground the aircraft or interfere with instrument performance. The current plan is for a no-fly day tomorrow and a tentative Easter Sunday flight.
