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US LTA Corporation of Eugene, Oregon successfully demonstrated the role of the Model 138S Airship in remote sensing operations for Bill Hoppel of the Remote Sensing Division of the Naval Research Laboratory. The photograph below depicts the 138S airship #001, Oregon Spirit, measuring aerosol size distribution, cloud droplet spectra and trace gas concentrations in the marine boundary layer. The slow speed of the 138S airship makes for an ideal platform to do high-spatial resolution profiling both vertically and horizontally, and to measure large aerosol and cloud droplet distributions without the difficulties caused by high speed sampling.
 
  

The flight program was conducted off the coast of Oregon and continued in Monterey, California during a period from1992-94. During this time the airship carried a payload of 1225 lbs. (557Kg) plus2-4crewman for flights averaging 7 hrs. duration. The entire operation and installation of equipment was performed by the crew of US LTA.

Many different types of scientific research platforms are currently in use and each platform has advantages and disadvantages. Airships and particularly the Model 138S offer the following unique research and data collection capabilities unavailable in other platforms;

· High stability at low airspeeds for high spatial resolution.
· Remain near stationary within an air mass and collect data in situ for i.e.., Langrangian measurements
· Long on station endurance for concentrated collection of data both vertical and horizontal i.e.., Gas plumes.
· High equipment / operator payloads, 3000 lbs. Disposable lift.
· External deployment of sensors with minimal aerodynamic affect.
· Excellent for low altitude operations 100ft. - 9000ft.
· Ability to operate over marine and/or land based research sites.
 

US LTA is the designer, manufacturer and operator of the 160ft. Model 138S airship.  Please contact us with questions and program information and visit the links and resources   page to see further info.

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