Summary of LEAR 36 FLIGHT #1
Monday 11/1/97 from St. John's, Newfoundland (YYT: 47.5N, 53W)

all locations, altitudes, winds & temperatures are from controls 
& GPS in airplane cockpit (i.e. pressure altimeter), not from 
dropsondes.  all information is approximate.

NOTE: all winds for this flight are magnetic, not true.  to 
approximate true winds, subtract 20deg.

takeoff:  12:45 Z from YYT  (scheduled for 10:15 Z, 6:45 local 
	    time.  0:15 delay due to fog, 2:15 refuelling delay)
landing:  17:50 Z at YYT

flight time:  approx. 5 h 5 min
pre-flight:  fog, ice pellets, freezing rain, snow (in that order).
during flight:  no noteworthy weather, 30-100% cloud cover below 
	flight level.

pilot:  George Kickhofel (Flight International)
co-pilot & navigator:  Gordon Stevenson (  "  )
crew #1 (on board scientist):  Rebecca Morss (MIT)
crew #2 (dropsonde operator):  Dean Lauritsen (NCAR)
crew #3 (units conversion officer):  Bruce Morley (NCAR)

planned flight path:
YYT     -> 45N 52W, time of arrival = before 12Z
	-> 45N 40W  (leg 2)
	-> 54N 40W  (leg 3)
	-> YYT  (leg 4)
drop ~ 12 sondes, at corners & 3 on each of legs 2-4


DROPSONDES:
it takes an avg. of 30 seconds after launch for sonde to begin 
tracking satellites & obtain wind data (using GPS).  several 
sondes took much longer to obtain winds; thermodynamic data 
was still recorded in these cases.

leg 1:
short.  cleared to 41000 ft for 1st drop before 1st turn, within 
radar contact (had difficulty reaching 41000 ft)

1.  13:07 Z	44.9N, 51.7W	38000 ft = 11.6 km = 207 mb
	T=-51C		winds from 183deg at 166 knots = 83 m/s	
					   near launch location
thought launch was from 41000 ft.  sonde slow to obtain wind 
data.

leg 2:
cleared down to 31000 ft after turn (exiting radar area). 
descended.

2.  13:15 Z	48.8N, 45.0W	31000 ft = 9.4 km = 291 mb
	-51C		183deg at 166 knots = 83 m/s
thought launch was from 35000 ft.  sonde slow to obtain wind 
data.

3.  13:33 Z	45.1N, 46.0W	31000 ft
	-42C		290deg at 170 kn = 85 m/s
got the launch altitude correct this time!  crew rejoices.

4.  13:46 Z	45.1N, 43.0W	31000 ft
	-43C		299deg at 168 kn = 84 m/s

cleared down to 27000 ft before turn.  descended.

5.  14:01 Z	45.0N, 39.9W	27000 ft
	-34C		325deg at 119 kn = 60 m/s
lost some of signal from sonde due to bank of airplane during
turn after launch.  in future, should launch after turn if 
possible.

leg 3:

6.  14:25 Z	47.2N, 40.0W	27000 ft
	-34C		284deg at 108 kn = 54 m/s

7.  14:47 Z	49.5N, 40.0W	27000 ft
	-40C		287deg at 86 kn = 43 m/s

8.  15:09 Z	51.7N, 40.0W	27000 ft
	-43C		285deg at 100 kn = 50 m/s

9.  15:32 Z	53.9N, 40.0W	27000 ft
	-42C		297deg at 78 kn = 39 m/s

leg 4:

10.  15:58 Z	52.7N, 43.3W	27000 ft
	-43C		235deg at 74 kn = 37 m/s

11.  16:23 Z	51.2N, 46.6W	27000 ft
	-44C		151deg at 108 kn = 54 m/s

12.  16:49 Z	49.5N, 49.6W	27000 ft
	-41C		200deg at 58 kn = 29 m/s
       sonde launched just after turn.

back to St. John's: sunny (finally) and windy.