If you did all your planning correctly we are ready to go. Now we wait
until Lexi determines if the weather in all the locations of our grid,
fueling caches, and at Byrd is going to be weather we can fly in. If
any one of the locations has or is expecting bad weather or low
visibility the flight is cancelled or the plan is reworked. At anytime
during the flight operation the pilots may decide that the weather is
becoming an issue and the plane will turn back.
As I wrote in another journal, weather is the number one factor that
determines how much science gets accomplished in a season.
Well, if you have done all your calculations you are ready to fly.
Let's go!!!
I am an extra passenger in the plane. Does my weight increase or
decrease the time the plane will be able to fly prior to a fuel stop?
(Note: I weigh approximately 200 pounds; read yesterday's journal for a
hint.)
For this reason, I will not be in the plane while they are flying the
grid. Instead I am parachuting out of the plane at WAIS Divide Camp.
I'M NOT really parachuting. The plane will fly to WAIS Divide Camp to
refuel at the fuel cache there before heading to the grid location. I
will spend about 8 hours there at that camp interviewing people and
getting an idea what it's like at another remote location. PolarTrec
teacher, Heidi Roop, is at WAIS Divide Camp, and I encourage you to read
her journals or even better participate in her live event on Monday,
January 11, 2010 at 12:00 pm central.
Check it out on the polartrec web site and register.
Trekkers, sure glad you flew with me today!!!!
Mr. W
Answers: My weight on the plane would decrease the flight time by 20
minutes.
