2/10/01 -The first instrument test flight occurred Friday
2/9/01 at 11:00am lasting for approximately three hours.
For a first test flight, it was considered successful. Most "bugs" or
problems were fixed by the PI's either in flight or shortly after
returning to WFF. A more detailed operational status report
for each instrument will be provided after the second test flight
scheduled for Tuesday, 2/13/01 at 3:00pm and lasting for 3.5 hours. The
flight will extend into darkness to test the response of the spectroradiometer
and the OH measurement.
The Engineering Check Flight (ECF) was conducted on Thursday
the day before the first test flight with all the instruments in
place but unpowered. Only the aircraft crew and the two structural
engineers were on the flight. Aircraft maneuvers and speed
exceeded expected mission profiles. Only two minor discrepancies
were noted in the ECF closeout memo.
Two installations are still in progress: air conditioning for
Kondo's NO2 converter and Clarke's FSSP wing probe. The air
conditoner should be completed before the third test flight scheduled
for Friday, 2/16/01 and steps are being taken to insure the FSSP
probe is installed before departure from WFF