Here is Number 3, done, tested, new batteries, and ready to fly.	Note the SKIRT on the lid. If moisture comes in the box it will be diverted down the sides an and not directly on the electronics.   .

We have made more than the number of balloon flights planned and are
now hard down--at least until next week. We will assess some options,
including another flt with elec field meter and tracker, flt of smaller
bal with tracker, etc. We have the balloon and helium resources to
continue flying tests of the tracker. I'm interested in your ideas of
what next.

We did not try to follow the balloon on 6/7 in part because we had crew
rest needs. I will be happy to pay a finder's reward of $75 to the
person or organization who helps us get back the electric field meter
and the gps tracker. It is my thought that it is much more efficient to
let others find the balloon, while we continue to have our ballooning
crew make flights, at least when we are operating a full line-up of
instruments.

Dave Rust
N5KCW

Ui-View APRS Log

QSL Report:

Hello to All,
Missed most of the flight but seeing it at 8:00 am local.
Here's the report :
Position of N5KCW-11 --- 13.3 miles southwest of Okmulgee, OK

Status: 06.5V 28C..NSSL WX Flight QSL Direct no5x@amsat.org

Course: 72.0 Speed: 32.2 MPH Altitude: 10020 feet
Raw packet: N5KCW-11>APOT02,ETULSA*,WIDE2-1,qAo,KA5J:/081103z3529.14N/09607.60WO072/028 05.2V-09C..NSSL WX Flight QSL Direct no5x@amsat.org/A=010020


73
Derek
Kentville, Nova Scotia

What a shame no one was chasing. The tracker package worked flawlessly.

I have attached several maps and have placed a circle where the package most likely landed.

This is based on the following:

The last position beaconed had the altitude at 1707 feet, speed at 26 mph, direction of travel of 168 degrees.

The payload was falling at approx 550 feet per minute.

I checked the elevation of the Henryetta Municipal airport and it is listed at 778 feet.

Now, assuming that the elevation of the landing area is 800 feet then the payload had 900 feet +/- to fall.
This is about 90 seconds. At 25 MPH it should travel no more than 3/4 mile in 90 seconds.

The speed on the last 5 received packets (oldest first) are as follows 25,29,32,29,26 mph.
The direction of travel on the last 5 packets (oldest first) is: 194,192,197,176,168 degrees.

So it appears as it drew nearer to ground the direction was swinging more to the east.
The Speed appears to be fairly constant at approx 27 mph.

I bet the package is within this circle. Anyone want to go look for it tomorrow?

A $75.00 finders fee is being offered.
John

Guys,
    I will forward some images that Eric and I took in hunting for the
last EFM package.  Can you find in the pix?  The camera was slightly
telephoto as at no point were we lower than 500ft AGL (FAR 91.119). 
Dave Rust, Eric and a grad student headed out this afternoon to actually
retrieve it.
 
==Sherman--
 
 
 
Attached are images of the landing location of flight 5 from 2007. The
landing site is just a bit north of John Robbins' best guess.
 
There looks to be a mostly clear path up to the landing site. The
balloon is stretched out in the grass in  a hook shape. The EFM is a
ways up in a tree to the north of the balloon.
 
We'll probably need to confer with the owners of the house with the
circle drive that you see in most photos.
 
-Eric

Sherman, it appears that the EFM is a long way from the Tracker and 'chute.  Did the line snap, or is that the normal distance.  I know that the EFM lowers 30 feet from the balloon within 30 seconds of launch but that looked a bit further to me.  Also it looks like the EFM is snagged in a tree... - John