70 years of Atmospheric research flying timeline ... - Met Office

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70 years of Atmospheric Research FlyingSeventy years of challenging our understanding of the atmospherewith high quality observations1942Meteorologists led by Alan Brewer assigned to High Altitude Flight(HAF) to investigatecontrail formation.In an article link (1948_Met_Mag_.pdf) written for the Meteorological Magazine(published November 1948) by R. Frith it was stated that “The presence of cloud, and itstype, could be reported from an aircraft, but no measurements could be made of itsdensity (liquid or solid content) or the number and size of its particles. It was believedthat knowledge of these quantities would not only benefit the general science ofmeteorology, but would be of great value in connexion with two special problems throwninto prominence by the war – icing and condensation trails. So in 1942, it was arrangedthat the High Altitude Flight at Boscombe Down should be given facilities formeteorological investigations to be carried out by meteorologists in aircraft. The initialobjective was the improvement of existing aircraft meteorological instruments and thedevelopment of new ones. It was expected that in the course of this work the researchunit would accumulate valuable meteorological data. This expectation has beenjustified.”© Crown copyright 20121
1942Two Boston Aircraft (AL480 & AL481) tasked with “High altitude MeteorologicalResearch”.These new additions to the fleet joined two Mk2 spitfires (P8021, and P7661) and aBoston Mk 3 (W8291). These early aircraft were involved in studies during the 40’swhich led to the discovery of very strong upper winds, which we now refer to as the jetstream and Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). In September 1942 three more Bostons BZ315,BZ362, BZ262 (1942 – 1944) also joined the fleet.1943Fortress Mk2A (FK192) arrived and Boston aircraft retired.The Flying Fortress was one of six B17’s presented to Winston Churchill by PresidentRoosevelt. This aircraft was used for the installation of the first airborne flat platethermometer for the measurement of temperature. Later in the year a Mosquito PF391(1943 – 1944) also joined the fleet, and the Boston Mk3 W8291was retired.1943First Reliable Humidity Measurement made in the stratosphere. Using newly developedDobson-Brewer Hygrometer on Fortress aircraft.When MRF was first started the need for more accurate measurements of humidity athigh altitude and low frost points, and the limitations of existing instrumentation led to the© Crown copyright 20122
Page 1: 70 years of AtmosphericResearch Fly
Page 5 and 6: Meteorological Research Flight, the
Page 7 and 8: 1948MRF equipped with a second Mosq
Page 9 and 10: 1953Canberra B2 (WJ582) arrived and
Page 11 and 12: 1961 MRF staff moved to a purpose b
Page 13 and 14: 1964Inside the Hastings.© Crown co
Page 15 and 16: 1966Hastings C1A (TG618) retired.19
Page 17 and 18: 1970Varsity (WF425) arrived.‘The
Page 19 and 20: 1973Canberra detached to Colorado t
Page 21 and 22: 1978C130 Hercules participated in t
Page 23 and 24: Link (Acid_Rain_Research_with_Snoop
Page 25 and 26: 1987Equipment for the measurement o
Page 27 and 28: 1994Hercules aircraft detached to C
Page 29 and 30: 1999A badge from the Enhanced Conti
Page 31 and 32: 2001The Facility for Airborne Atmos
Page 33 and 34: CAESAR was designed to study and un
Page 35 and 36: The BAe-146 aircraft made a range o
Page 37 and 38: The MetOp series of satellites fly
Page 39 and 40: 2011The Met Office Civil Contingenc
Page 41 and 42: The FAAM aircraft is used for proje
Page 43: Met Office Tel: 0870 900 0100FitzRo

70 years of Atmospheric research flying timeline ... - Met Office

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