**TO: Suborbital Science Program FAX: (202) 358-2770**

**NASA Headquarters Voice: (202) 358-7212**

**Mail Suite 3F71**

**Attn: Andrew Roberts**

***andrew.c.roberts@nasa.gov***

**[Flight Report]{.underline}**

+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Aircraft :**   | NASA P-3B                                         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Operating      | KWAL/KWAL                                         |
| Site(s)**        |                                                   |
|                  |                                                   |
| **From / To :**  |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Flight Date    | March 25, 2008                                    |
| :**              |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Flight Number  | PCF#1 536                                         |
| :**              |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Take Off Time  | **1111 (L)**                                      |
| :**              |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Landing Time   | **1411(L)**                                       |
| :**              |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Flight Time    | 3.0                                               |
| :**              |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Flt Request \# | **8P301/ Phil Russell**                           |
| / PI:**          |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Purpose of     | **Data \[ \] Ferry \[ \] Functional Check \[ \]   |
| Flight :**       | Other \[X \]**                                    |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Sensor Payload | ARCTAS                                            |
| :**              |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| **Comments :**   | Project check flight #1. Perfect weather for the  |
|                  | check flight. Aside from some tracking problems   |
|                  | with ATTS-14 and problems with the REVEAL, all    |
|                  | the other instruments were up and the flight was  |
|                  | considered highly successful. Tomorrow will be    |
|                  | used to work and fine tune the instruments for    |
|                  | PCF #2 which is scheduled for Thursday, March 27  |
|                  | with an 1100 Take-off                             |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+

**SUBMITTED BY: Dave Easmunt 25 March, 2008**

Flight Hours for ARCTAS Campaign

  ------------------------- ----------- ---------- ------------ -------------
  **Flight**                **Date**    **Flight   **Duration   **Remaining
                                        \#**       (hr)**       Hours\***

  *Total Allocated*                                             *75*

  Engineering Check Flt     3/14/2008   535        2.8          72.2

  Engineering Check Flt 2   3/24/2008   537        2.3 (1.0)\*  71.2

  Project Check Flight #1   3/25/2008   536        3.0          68.2

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                

                                                                
  ------------------------- ----------- ---------- ------------ -------------

\* Science only charged 1 hour for ECF #2,

![](media/image1.png){width="5.492361111111111in"
height="3.5680555555555555in"}

Planned flight track

![](media/image2.png){width="5.286111111111111in"
height="3.4409722222222223in"}

Actual flight track

[Instrument Reports]{.underline}

[AATS]{.underline}: Didn't track 1^st^ 1.5 hrs of flight. Then tracked &
got data. Request time on ramp Wed, fly Wed or Thur.

[AERO3X]{.underline}: First flight ever. Operated & took data whole
flight. Operated both nephs without humidification. Spot checks w HiGEAR
looked good. To add humidification next flight. Not getting PDS data.
Port needs checking. Need to add aethalometer before next flight. Could
fly Wed, Thur would be better.

[BBR]{.underline}: AOK all flight. Need to check identity of zenith
sensors: Solar vs IR. Can fly Wed or Thur.

[CAR]{.underline}: Praise & thanks to all P-3 staff for getting us this
far. CAR worked well. CAR nav data system worked well. Some software
issues to work in next flight Wed or Thur. Try to keep circles to 2-3
minutes in future flights, which may require steeper bank. INU needs
accurate time reference. To work this with P-3, PDS, & REVEAL.

[CCN]{.underline}: Not operated today. To operate on next flight.

[COBALT]{.underline}: Worked well. Need headset when kneeling to
operate. Instrument stopped operating during takeoff, but able to
restart after getting permission to get out of seat. Can fly Wed or
Thur. AERO3X couldn't see COBALT data after cutoff during takeoff.

[HiGEAR]{.underline}

[Front (Cam McNaughton):]{.underline} Worked well, but some flow
problems caused by low speeds and varying speeds. 240 kt would be better
than the 200 kt flown today.

[Rear (Steve Howell):]{.underline} Impressed by smoothness & quietness
of P-3. Prefer next flight be Thur rather than Wed.

[PDS]{.underline}: AOK. Can fly Wed or Thur.

[REVEAL]{.underline}: Not operated on this flight. Request 4 hrs with
P-3 outside Wed, then fly Thur. Expect partial performance Thur, hope to
have more by 31 Mar transit flight.

[SSFR]{.underline}: Worked well takeoff to landing. Triangle pattern
flown very well by P-3. Ideal day for SSFR. Instrument can fly Wed or
Thur.