METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH FLIGHT


Mk.2 HERCULES

Summary of Capability

MRF Technical Note No. 21


9 December 1997

Minor updates: 11 Jan 1999, 21 Apr 1999


Meteorological Research Flight

Building Y46

DERA

FARNBOROUGH

HAMPSHIRE

GU14 0LX

United Kingdom



Head 01252 394501

Aircraft Manager 01252 395400

Fax 01252 376588

jsfoot@meto.gov.uk


Document prepared by D. Anderson

ãCrown Copyright 1997Summary of Capability


Mk.2 Hercules


This summary is provided as a general guide to the Mk.2 Hercules and its instrumentation. The details about instrumentation (particularly accuracy) are typical values and users should check critical variables.


Details about instrumentation owned or partially owned by outside collaborators is included for completion but no guarantees are given for their availability or the accuracy of the details.


This document may be referenced by Meteorological Research Flight Technical Note No. 21.


Contents:


1

Mk.2 Hercules Summary



2

Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications



3

Dropsonde Instrumentation Specifications



4

Basic Meteorological Measurements



5

Aerosol and Cloud Physics Measurements



6

Chemical Sampling - Instruments owned by MRF



7

Chemical Sampling - Instruments NOT owned by MRF



8

Application Information



9

MRF C-130 Equipment Installation



10

Contact Points


1 Mk.2 Hercules Summary (also referred to as MRF C-130)


Description:


- Crew

Two pilots, navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster



- Scientists

Maximum of fourteen project participants



- Length

36.6 m



- Wingspan

40.6 m



- Weight

70 316 kg maximum



- Engines

Four Allison T56-A-15, 4 508 equivalent h.p. each



- Base

DERA, Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wilts, UK


Performance:


- Altitude

10 000 m (typical working maximum)



- Range

5 500 km (at 7 000 m cruise altitude)



- Endurance

12 hours maximum with IFR reserves



- Speed

150 ms-1 (typical cruise), 100 ms-1 (typical measurement speed)



- Payload

17 600 kg with full fuel load


Sensors:


-

Temperature, humidity, pressure



-

Gustprobes



-

Aerosol and Cloud Physics Instrumentation





-

Radiometers (Visible, Infrared, and microwave wavelengths)



-

Remote Radiometric Surface Temperature



-

Video (Still photography is available via Hand-held camera)



-

Atmospheric Trace Gases



-

3 cm Weather Radar


Applications:


-

Experiments requiring versatile measurement capability at short notice over land and sea around the UK



-

Campaigns in the UK and abroad requiring intensive measurement periods or long endurance



-

Short notice campaigns overseas



-

Radiative Transfer Studies in clear and cloudy air



-

Cloud Physics and Dynamic Studies



-

Dynamics of mesoscale weather systems



-

Boundary Layer studies



-

Tropospheric Chemistry measurements



-

Remote sensing: verification of ground based instruments



-

Satellite Ground Truth - Radiometric measurements and winds



-

Satellite Instrument test-bed



-

Radar ducting studies


The aircraft can perform a number of manoeuvres designed to get the most accurate measurements possible of the atmospheric phenomena being observed. These include:


-

profile descents (or ascents) at constant airspeed and rate of descent (ascent). Minimum altitude @ 15 m (50 feet) where permitted.



-

straight and level runs at constant height and airspeed (or groundspeed). Minimum altitude 30 m (100 feet).



  • 'orbits’ and spiral ascents/descents round a fixed point.



  • reference point can be fixed over the ground or within an air mass.


2 Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications


Meteorological Research Flight

Aircraft Type: Mk.2 Hercules


Aircraft No: XV208



Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder




Range

Accuracy

Resolution

Aircraft Vertical Velocity

Inertial Navigation Unit

Honeywell H423

±30 ms-1

±0.3 ms-1

0.019 -1

Aircraft Ground Speed Components

“ “ “

“ “

±250 ms-1

±0.75 ms-1

0.019 -1

Aircraft True Heading

“ “ “

“ “

0° to 360°

±0.1° r.m.s.

0.006°


Aircraft Pitch Angle

“ “ “

“ “

±90°

±0.07° r.m.s.

0.006°


Aircraft Roll Angle

“ “ “

“ “

±180°

±0.07° r.m.s.

0.006°


Angle of Attack

Potentiometric Wind Vane

Penny & Giles E23001

±10°

±0.5° offset

±0.005°


Angle of Sideslip

Potentiometric Wind Vane

Penny & Giles E23001

±10°

±0.5°offset

±0.005°


Geometric Altitude

Radar Altimeter

Honeywell YG9000D1

0-1525 metres

(0-5000 feet)

greater of ±3% or

±1.5 m

0.4 m




Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications (continued)


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Aircraft Latitude (GPS)

Global Positioning System‡

Navstar XR5

0± to 90 N or S

±50 m *

±0.1 m


Aircraft Longitude (GPS)

“ “ “‡

“ “

0 to 180 E or W

±50 m *

±0.1 m


Aircraft Altitude (GPS)

“ “ “

“ “

exceeds aircraft flight envelope

±50 m *

±0.06 m


GPS Horizontal Velocity

“ “ “

“ “

“ “ “ “

±1.6 ms-1 *

±0.1 m-1



GPS Vertical Velocity

“ “ “

“ “

“ “ “ “

±2.6 ms-1 *

±0.03 m-1



Aircraft Latitude

(OMEGA) **

Omega Navigation System

Litton LTN-211

0° to 90° N or S

<2 km radius by day and <4 km by night

0.000 086°


Aircraft Longitude

(OMEGA) **

“ “ “

“ “

0° to 180° E or W

<2 km radius by day and <4 km by night

0.000 086°


Precipitation Location

Radar Altimeter

Ecko 290

±15° radar tilt angle, 260 km maximum range

dependent on range

3° beam width, 300 metre resolution within 32 km range



‡ using WGS84 Map Projection

* subject to degradation by US Department of Defence

** OMEGA system was discontinued from 30 September 1997: Flight A581


Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications (continued)


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Static Pressure

Variable Capacitance

Rosemount 1201F

1030-100 mb

better than ±0.3% full scale pressure i.e. ±3 mb

0.25 mb



Pitot-Static Pressure

Variable Capacitance

Rosemount 1221F

0-125 mb

better than ±0.3% full scale pressure i.e. ±0.5 mb

0.03 mb


Total Air Temperature (de-iced)

Platinum resistance (50W)

Rosemount 102BL

-80°C to +40°C

±0.3°C (de-icing heater off)

0.06°C


Total Air Temperature (non de-iced)

Platinum resistance (50W)

Rosemount 102AL

-80°C to +40°C

±0.3°C

0.06°C


In Cloud Temperature Probe (ICTP)

4.3m m CO2 Absorption Band Thermometer

UK Met Office developed

-50°C to +30°C

±0.1°C at +30°C

±1°C at -50°C

0.025°C


Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications (continued)



Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Dew Point TD

Thermoelectric Hygrometer

General Eastern 1011B

-60 °C to + 50 °C

±0.25°C at TD >

±0°C reducing to ~

±1.0°C at TD =

-60°C (sluggish)

0.03°C


Absolute Humidity

Lyman-a absorption and fluorescence hygrometer (FWVS)

UK Met Office developed

Abs:-30°Cto+30°C

Fluo: -80°Cto-25°C

±1°C

0.5°C


Total Water Content

Lyman-a absorption hygrometer

UK Met Office developed

0 - 20 g kg-1

±0.15 g kg-1

0.005 g kg-1


Liquid Water Content

Hot wire

Johnson-Williams LWH

0 - 3 gm-3

±10%

0.001 gm-3


Radiometric Surface Temperature

Pyro Electric Detector 8m m to 14mml

HEIMANN KT 19.82

-50°C to +50°C

±0.5°C

from 0.1°C at +20°C

0.3°C at -50°C



Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications (continued)


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Broadband Infrared Radiation (Hemispheric f.o.v. upper and lower)

Pyrgeometers

4mm ®50mm (silicon dome)

UK Met Office developed

-500 ® + 500Wm-2

±10 Wm-2

0.24 Wm-2


Broadband Solar Radiation (Hemispheric f.o.v.

upper and lower)

Pyranometers

0.3mm ®3mm

(WG295 clear dome)

Eppley PSP

-40 ® + 1400Wm-2

±3% for direct irradiance

±2% for diffuse irradiance

0.35 WM-2


Broadband Solar Radiation (Hemispheric f.o.v.

upper and lower)

Pyranometers

0.7mm ®3mm

(WG715 red dome)

Eppley PSP

-40 ® + 700Wm-2

±3% for direct irradiance

±2% for diffuse irradiance

0.18 WM-2


Visible and Infrared Radiation

Scanning Airborne Filter Radiometer (SAFIRE)

0.5mm ®15mm

(16 bands or 4 bands scanning field of view)

UK Met Office developed

0.5 ® 3.5mm



3.7 ® 15 m m

1%



0.1K

Shortwave signal/noise ratio 1000:1


Thermal resolution <0.1K




Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications (continued)


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Microwave Radiation

Microwave Airborne Radiometer Scanning System (MARSS) (89, 157, 183±1, ±3, ±7) GHz


UK Met Office LMD developed

9 upward views +

9 downward views

~1K over land

0.4 ® 0.7K


Microwave Radiation

Deimos

23.8, k50.1 GHz Vert + Horz polarisations

UK Met Office developed

5 downward views

~1.3 K over land

0.5 K


Infrared Radiation

Airborne Research Interferometer Evaluation System (ARIES)

BOMEM MB200/UK Met Office developed

3.3 ® 16.7mm

(600 cm-1 ®

3000 cm-1)

NEDT £ 0.2K when viewing a 280K Black Body for 1 minute at 1000cm-1 (1cm-1 resolution)


NEDT £ 0.2K when viewing a 280K Black Body for 2 minutes at 2700cm-1 (1cm-1 resolution)

0.48 cm-1 sampling bin (can be degraded)



The above instruments are maintained by the Remote Sensing Branch (RS) of the Met Office at Farnborough.


For further details on ARIES contact ?? For further details on MARSS & DEIMOS contact Tim Hewison.


For details of address, E-mail and telephone numbers see section 8.

Aircraft Instrumentation Specifications (continued)


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Aerosol Light Scattering

3 wavelength Nephelometer (450, 550 & 700nm) Backscatter and Total scatter measurements

TSI Model 3563

Software adjustable sensitivity ~10-7 m-1

using 30 second averaging

±10%

0.024% of range


Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN)

Saturation gradient chamber

UK Met Office developed

>0.2mm particle diameter with 10 saturation ranges

±5% (provisional)



Condensation Particle Counter (CNC)

Ultrafine Condensation Particle Counter

TSI INC Model 3025A

50% detection at 3nm

90% detection at 5n m

±10% up to 9.99x104 cm-3



Optical absorption by black carbon

Dual Path integrating plate Quartz filter. Absorption coefficient at l = 565nm.

Radiance Research Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAF) (aka SOOTY)

0-5X10-5 m -1

±10%

0.024% of range


Counterflow Virtual Impactor (CVI) (containing: CNC - 3010 (TSI)

PCASP 0.1mm to 9mm

Filters - see Chemistry Section)

Collects cloud droplets by removing them from the airflow and evaporating the water to leave a residual particle and water vapour

Developed by University of Stockholm/UK Met Office

Min cut-off 4mm





3 Dropsonde Instrumentation Specifications



Type: VAISALA RD82-41G GPS Mini Dropsonde


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Manufacturer and Model No.

Combined Performance of Transducer, Signal Conditioning and Recorder






Range

Accuracy

Resolution


Air Temperature

Capacitive bead

<2.5 s

-90°C ® +60 °C

±0.2 °C

0.1 °C


Humidity

HUMICAP thin-film capacitor

<1 s

0% ®100% RH (U)

±2% RH

1% RH


Pressure

BAROCAP silicon sensor

of the order of milliseconds

3 hPa ®1070 hPa

±0.5 hPa

0.1 hPa


Winds

GPS codeless Doppler-shift measurement technique

N/A

0 ®150 ms-1

±0.5 ms-1

0.1 ms-1 temporal resolution 0.5 s


4 Basic Meteorological Measurements



Parameter

Absolute Accuracy

Resolution

Primary Instrumental Source

Remarks

Horizontal wind component

±0.5 ms-1

0.06 ms-1

Pitot-static system, angle of sideslip vane, INU, GPS, OMEGA*

Assumes full corrections made, including removal of INU drift

Vertical wind component

±0.1 ms-1

±0.03 -1

Angle of attack vane, pitot-static system, INU

Assumes low frequency errors removed by reference to changes in static pressure

Immersion Temperature

±0.3°C in clear air

0.06°C in clear air

Rosemount resistance thermometers, pitot-static system

Rosemounts corrected for kinetic heating

Radiative Temperature

±0.1°C ® 1.0°C

0.025°C

In Cloud Temperature Probe (ICTP)

ICTP used in cloud

Humidity mixing ratio

±0.3 g kg-1

0.02 g kg-1

Total water content probe (TWC), Rosemount thermometers, pitot-static system, Fluorescence Water Vapour Sensor (FWVS), dew point hygrometers

Figures quoted refer to the lower altitudes in the atmosphere

Geometric Altitude

±3%

0.4 m

Radar altimeter

Does not work at heights >125 m (5,000 feet)

Pressure

better than ±3 mb

0.25 mb

Compensated static pressure ports




(*OMEGA system was discontinued from end of September 1997 - data may still be used for flights before this date.)


5 Aerosol and Cloud Physics Measurements


Parameter

Device

Size Range (diameter: d)

Remarks

Number densities of cloud particles

FSSP

0.5 mm<d < 8 mm

1 mm < d < 16m m

2 mm < d < 32m m

2 mm < d < 45 mm

Choice of ranges, sizing correct for water droplets only.

Number densities of cloud particles

Cloud particle probe (2D-C)

25mm < d < 800mm

Provides shape information for larger particles of ice and water.

Number densities of precipitation particles

Precipitation probe (HVPS)

200mm < d < 6400mm

See 2D-C.

Number densities of aerosol particles

PCASP

0.1mm < d < 3mm

Size calibration for spherical particles.

Cloud scope

Hallett Cloud Scope (Desert Research Institute)


Water drop/ice crystal images recorded on video tape.

Cloud condensation nuclei

Cloud condensation nuclei counter

CCN concentrations up to 4 000 cm-3 . Supersaturations of up to 1.5%

Discrete air samples drawn in via the alleviator.

Liquid water concentrations

Johnson-Williams meter

» 100% of 10mm to 30mm diameter drops collected.

»50% only of 500mm d drops.

Bulk measurement, larger droplets shed by wire.

Aerosol Chemical Composition

Variation of Aerosol Chemical Characteristics (VACC) (University of Sunderland)

3 nm < d < 3 mm

Gives size distribution with some chemical information.


6 Chemical Sampling - Instruments owned by MRF



Variable Measured

Method

Type/Model

Remarks

Ozone O3

UV Photometric

TECO 49

Range 0-1000 ppb Sensitivity 2 ppb Modified for aircraft use.

Peroxy Acetyl Nitrate (PAN)

Electron capture gas chromatograph

MRF developed 3 channels

Detection limit approx. 50 ppt . Calibration under development.

Particulate matter

Millipore Filters, 2 channels. Up to 3 filters each inlet.

MRF/Mainz developed.

Isokinetic inlets

Filters supplied by user. Ion or SEM analysis by user.

Possible to detect Ca++, Mg++, Na+, NH4+, K+, Cl- , NO3 -, SO4--.

Grab samples

Stainless steel flasks

7 bar max fill pressure

48 1.6 litre bottles available at MRF.

Laboratory analysis by user.

e.g. FID GC for NMHC, ECGC for Halocarbons

Grab samples

Tedlar bags/metal bellows pump

bags supplied by user

Analysis by user laboratory

1 litre to 25 litre bags may be used.


Variable Measured

Instrument Type

Model etc.

Instrument owner/operator

Remarks

J NO2

4p solid angle UV photometer

Juelich developed

Juelich/not required

NO2 Photolysis rate. Fitted as replacement for BBR.

J O1D

4p solid angle UV photometer

University of Leicester developed

UL/not required

Ozone Photolysis rate. Fitted as replacement for BBR.

Carbon Monoxide CO

Resonance Fluorescence

Juelich developed

Juelich/MRF or Juelich

Continuous, fast response.

Nitrogen Oxides

NO/NO2/ NOY/NO Y -HNO 3

4 channel NO/O3 chemiluminescence

NOAA/UEA developed

UEA/UEA

NOY channels use gold tube catalytic converter in presence of CO to NO.NO2 uses photolytic conversion to NO

Peroxides H2O2

Fluorimetric

UEA developed

UEA/UEA

2 channel wet chemistry, total peroxides and organic peroxides

Formaldehyde HCHO

Fluorimetric

UEA developed

UEA/UEA

1 channel wet chemistry

Sulphur Dioxide/Dimethyl sulphide SO2/DMS

APCI Mass Spectrometer

Max Planck developed

Owner/owner or MRF

Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation, continuous fast response

PFC Tracers

Dual Trap Analyser GC

BNL developed

Owner/MRF

Requires release of PFC tracer for plume detection


8 Application Information

Typical information required when considering projects requiring the MRF Hercules.


· Summary of scientific programme.


· Proposed flight operations, to include:



- Flying periods,




- Number of flights, duration, and times of day,




- Operating base,




- Altitude and range,




- Weather conditions and an indication of the likelihood of such suitable conditions,




- Number of scientific staff or observers needing to fly,




- Instruments needed on the flight,




- Need for real time display of data,




- Co-ordination with any other ground or airborne system


· Data processing requirements, to include:



- Data required on standard format MRF data disks and tapes,




- Data required in non-standard format,




- Special data processing needs.


· Requirements for air to ground or air to air communication requirements.

· Name, address etc. of any collaborators including, if necessary, a scientific contact within the Met. Office.


9 MRF C-130 Equipment Installation


MRF have a rolling programme of installations on the C-130, many of which are minor changes or upgrades to existing equipment. However, new equipment is installed when required to meet the needs of users, either on a permanent basis or for particular campaigns.


Because the aircraft is a military aircraft, installations have to meet military standards; amongst the most stringent of these is the 16g deceleration forward emergency landing case. Although airworthiness inspectors prefer the structural strength of the equipment, including the mounting points, to be certified as conforming to Hercules stress requirements on MoD Form 100, often this will not be possible, and each installation will have to be agreed with the airworthiness authorities at Boscombe Down.


MRF are willing to consider the feasibility of any new installation; discussions should be held at an early stage as the design and embodiment of installations can (depending on the complexity of the task) take some time.


10 Contact Points


For further information please contact the following:



Meteorological Research Flight


Remote Sensing Branch

Building Y46


Building Y70

DERA


DERA

Farnborough


Farnborough

Hampshire


Hampshire

GU14 0LX


GU14 0LX







John Foot, Head of MRF

01252 395401

jsfoot@meto.gov.uk

Nick Jackson, Head of Facilities

01252 395417

wdnjackson@meto.gov.uk

Nick Price, Aircraft Manager

01252 395503

nmprice@meto.gov.uk







Doug Johnson, Head of Cloud Physics

01252 395734

dwjohnson@meto.gov.uk

Pete Francis, Head of Atmospheric Radiation

01252 395403

pnfrancis@meto.gov.uk

Ken Dewey, Head of Atmospheric Chemistry

01252 395830

kjdewey@meto.gov.uk







EU contracts/proposals should contact:-

Dave Kindred

01252 395421

drkindred@meto.gov.uk







Universities, HEIs and NERC/SERC institutes should contact:-


Andrew Kaye

01252 395843

aka@nerc.ac.uk







MRF Fax

01252 376588








For further details on Remote Sensing Branch (RSI) equipment contact:-




Dr Jon Taylor (ARIES, MARSS & DEIMOS

01252 395728

jptaylor@meto.gov.uk

Tim Hewison (MARSS & DEIMOS)

01252 395781

tjhewison@meto.gov.uk







RSI Fax

01252 515523



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