4 October Start/Stop Times

Start Stop Maneuver

22:51:28 22:59:49 A to B’; Descent from 7K’ to 500’

22:59:49 23:18:48 B’ to C; 500’

23:18:48 23:34:26 C to D; 500’

23:35:34 23:58:47 D’ to C; Porpoise 300’ to 2K’

23:59:36 00:15:05 C to E’; 500’

00:16:15 00:36:45 E’ to C; 1.5K’

00:37:52 00:53:03 C to E’; 1K’

00:55:29 01:07:41 E’ to C; 3K’

01:07:41 01:10:38 C; Ascent to 5K’

01:10:38 01:16:56 C; Descent to 3K’

01:16:56 01:48:02 C to B’; Porpoise 300’ to 2K’

01:48:18 01:57:54 B’ to A; Ascent to 12K’

Initial Impressions: This flight consisted of the basic Flight Track 1 survey (minus the C-F-G triangle). The 500’ run along the coast found first easterlies of 20-25 knots out of Cross Sound and then a gradual windshift towards winds from about 135 degrees at 35 knots near C, and then more from the east and lighter farther north towards D. The porpoise back to C indicated less frictional veering and less speed shear near C. One interesting aspect not seen on other flights: the wind directions were more easterly farther offshore along the C-E line. The C-E stack indicated maximum wind speeds at C (45-50 knots) near the 1K’ level. The porpoise heading for B’ showed easterlies out of Cross Sound and static stability up to 2K’. The divergence in the zonal component of the wind along the C-E line was puzzling but may have a reasonably simple explanation. It is possible that the gap flow out of the channel effectively could not turn the corner sharp enough, such that point E was experiencing a greater proportion of air with its origins out of Cross Sound. The air at C was warmer and drier than at B, as if it had risen over the outflow and then sank back down to flow along the coast.