TABLE VII
SUMMARY OF NYO CONSTANT-LEVEL BALLOON FLIGHTS
FLIGHT NUMBER
DATE AND RELEASE TIME
LAUNCHING SITE
DESCRIPTION OF BALLOONS
BALLOON WEIGHT
DESCRIPTION OF ALTITUDE CONTROL
BALLAST WEIGHT
FREE LIFT
BALLOON LIFT
RADIOSONDE RECEPTION
TRACKING
AIRCRAFT OBSERVATION
FLIGHT DURATION
OPTIMUM CONSTANT LEVELS MSL
MAXIMUM CONSTANT LEVELS MSL
RECOVERY & LANDING SITE
CRITIQUE
27
16 Sept. 1947 0521 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 H. A. Smith 15' .004" Polyethylene with 18 load points
12.5 kg
3 mc transmitter, banner, ballast assembly
4.1 kg-
2.5 kg
14.6 kg
392 min.
None
None required
Over 392 min.
Max. 33900'
0%
Another flight showing necessity of automatic ballast valve. Balloon went to pressure height, descended to ground where some gear was dropped. Balloon then oscillated between ground and 1000 m. Ballast valve and radiosonde modulator believed defective.
28
16 Sept. 1947 0542 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
11 meteorological balloons 350 gm each
3.9 kg
Data gear banner
None
2.0 kg
9.1 kg
Not provided
Theodolite Alamo-gordo 52 min. Full cross 283 min.
None required
Over 223 min.
No data
No data
0%
Cluster of meteorological balloons for Watson Labs. No altitude control or radiosonde provided.
29
21 Nov. 1947 1708 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 GM 2' appendix with batens
4.1 kg
T-69, burn-out baroswitch banner, ballast assembly
5.5 kg
857 g
14.4 kg
69 min.
658-148 min. Theodolite 12 min. 12
None
14 hours 21 min.
Rising when lost
51,000' est.
W. Alberta, Ontario
Excellent flight presumed from duration and distance. Manual ballast valve kept flight in air. Observed landing 9:30 AM, Nov. 22, 1947, Main station downwind not in operation. Tracking only by handgears. Average wind less than 100 mph. Flight shows need of barograph.
30
25 Nov. 1947 1536 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 GM, no appendix
3.7 kg
T-69, burn-out baroswitch ballast assembly, banner
5.5 kg
2900 g
16.1 kg
148 min.
658-148 min. theodolite 26 min.
Not found by tracking plane L-5
Over 3 hours.
Over 70 min. at 1000 ft
45,000' const.
Chihuahua Mexico
Good flight presumed though data not available. Maximum altitude 6000 feet lower than computed due to lack of appendix.
31
26 Nov. 1947 1025 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 GM
4.1 kg
T-69, burn-out baroswitch ballast assembly, banner
5.0 kg
1480 g
14.1 kg
658 theodolite 200 min.
Not found by tracking plane L-5
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Freddie Texas
Transmitter failed shortly after release.
32
28 Nov. 1947 0905 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 GM 2' appendix w/batens
4.0 kg
T-69 burn-out baroswitch ballast assembly, banner
5.0 kg
1480 g
14.3 kg
148 min.
658-148 min. theodolite 46 min. 155 min
None
Unknown
Rising when lost
Unknown
Blanco, Texas
658 tracking 93 miles from Alamogordo, about 90 miles from Roswell. Transmitter apparently failed after 155 min. of flight. 480 miles from Alamogordo.
33
29 Nov. 1947 0934 MST
Alamogordo New Mexico
1 GM 2' appendix
4.0 kg
T-69 Watson batteries, Ferguson meteorograph, burnout baroswitch, ballast assembly, banner
5.0 kg
2160 g
16.5 kg
38 min.
658-38 min. theodolite 115 min
None
Unknown
Rising when lost
Unknown
Not recovered
Transmitter failure. Elevation angle 13 when lost. Distance about 15 miles.