WB-57F 28 July 2002 Flight Summary


1)  The WB-57F completed its second-to-last Florida flight today (Sunday, 28 July 2002).  
Upon takeoff, the aircraft headed east towards a significant latitudinal gradient in 
tropopause height, climbing to maximum altitude in the process.  Due to unusually warm 
temperatures, the aircraft was only able to climb to 57.2 kft, whereupon it executed a 
couple of legs at different altitudes in the lower stratosphere.  Following the 
stratospheric legs, the WB-57F joined the other CRYSTAL-FACE aircraft in an extensive 
sampling of two convective systems on the western Florida coast.   During the anvil 
encounters, the WB-57F executed several spiral descents and ascents.  On the return to Key 
West, a brief encounter with a liquid water cloud provided a useful calibration point for 
some of the instruments.


2)  The WB-57F departed Key West at 2:29 pm EDT and returned at 7:51 pm EDT.


3)  Instrument performance on the flight was again excellent, with nearly all instruments 
obtaining science-quality data.


4)  The next, and last, Florida-area flight opportunity is set for Monday, 29 July.  Looking 
ahead to the transit flight on Wednesday, 31 July, we are planning a takeoff time of 9:30 am 
EDT 


Randy and Dave