Twin Otter - CIRPAS - NPS

Naval Postgraduate School CIRPAS Twin Otter

A Twin Otter research aircraft has been operated by the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA  since 1998.  The aircraft supports atmospheric and oceanographic research for Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, and others.  The airplane is instrumented to measure the meteorological state variables, flight path and platform attitude, turbulence, aerosol particle concentration and size spectra, cloud and precipitation drop concentration and size spectra, light scatter and absorption coefficients and sea surface temperature.  Ample room is in the cabin for rack-mountable guest instruments.  Well characterized aerosol community inlet provides air samples into the cabin.  Nadir and zenith ports provide up and down view for radiometers, sunphotometers and imaging instruments.  Satellite communication system permits flight following from the ground and viewing of data in real time, as well as chat-room communication between flight scientist and science team on ground.  

Owner/Operator: 
Naval Postgraduate School Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies
Type: 
Conventional fixed wing, twin turboprop
Duration: 
5.0 hours (payload and weather dependent)
Useful Payload: 
1,500 lbs
Gross Take-off Weight: 
13,500 lbs
Onboard Operators: 
3
Max Altitude: 
18,000
Air Speed: 
100 knots
Range: 
300 Nmi
Power: 
200 A, 28VDC (up to 4KVA, 115VAC)
Point(s) of Contact: 

Roy Woods

Haflidi Jonsson

(831) 384-2776 ext. 11
(831) 241-4806

Anthony Bucholtz