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Aerial footage from the June 17 Nebraska tornadofest! PDF Print E-mail
News - Tornadoes
Written by Reed Timmer   
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 11:58
As mentioned in earlier blog entries, the TVN/Radiance Technologies team successfully launched the RC plane into the tornadic southern Nebraska atmosphere on June 17th. The video below shows the initial launch with a tornado in the background, and the RC plane deploying parachute probes into the inflow region of the storm.  Note the aerial shots of the parachute probe getting deployed out the rear, and sucked toward the tornado before wrapping around the backside! Each of these probes measures temperature, pressure, and dewpoint inside the tornado; one of the probes can even record HD video! The probes were recovered that night from a corn field. Each of the probes has GPS tracking ability and we plot their path and location in 3-D on Google Earth in the Radiance vehicle.  At the time of the video below, we were in the process of driving into theses same tornadoes (shown far away from the plane vehicle perspective) with the SRV Dominator, with the radar pointed in the vertical to measure the updraft winds while the roof-mounted anemometer measured winds in the horizontal. Be sure to watch Storm Chasers on Discovery this fall for the rest of the story!!  (Click on the "READ MORE" button, below, for the video!)
 
Discuss (9 posts)
Re:Aerial footage from the June 17 Nebraska tornadofest!
Jun 26 2009 15:04:50
Oh wow, that is amazingly COOL! For some reason, it didn't occur to me that "RC" meant "radio controlled". What an awesome way to get data! I'm amazed by how well they can fly that thing in those weather conditions. Great job, guys, and an incredibly innovative idea!
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Re:Aerial footage from the June 17 Nebraska tornadofest!
Jun 26 2009 15:22:40
WOW Reed, you keep it up and you might have 5 post by the end of the year...lol.
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Re:Aerial footage from the June 17 Nebraska tornadofest!
Jun 27 2009 23:24:30
That is some fantastic footage! I can't wait to see or hear about the data that you have collected. I know it will be of great importance. Thanks for all you do, and keep up the great work!!! Tammy
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+8 #1 crazyhorse2002 2009-06-24 14:52 Now that is a new way to stormchase good job Reed.
 
 
+6 #2 Union8 2009-06-24 14:54 WOW! Guys Awesome AWESOME job to the pilot of that R/C ! I enjoy flying R/C also and I wouldn't dare be brave enough to fly my planes in winds like that! You guys have amazed me time and time again TVN ! Again, Great Job!

Brett
 
 
+5 #3 JC Surfs 2009-06-24 15:26 Now that is really great stuff.. Our team has a couple of probe launchers we attempted to use near Ford, Kansas, June 9th.. The problem was that there were so many chasers and law enforcement on HWY 54… "it is a controlled explosive that launches the GPS and other data probes" so we had to be careful.. I think the plane is awesome… The guy flying it really knows what he is doing for sure. Really looking forward to the success of the data retrieved from the probes. Just really enjoy the research end of chasing.. This needs to be the focus as we continue.. What a stellar year !!! Best of Cheers…
 
 
+5 #4 babygirl 2009-06-24 17:29 that was brilliant to watch and seeing that on the roof cam was amazing keep it up guys
 
 
+5 #5 luvthatpigskin50 2009-06-24 20:32 The RC plane brings a new level to storm chasing. Outstanding job guys. Would LOVE to be able to be with you all for the excitement. SUPER!
 
 
+5 #6 TexarkanaBaby 2009-06-24 23:32 Abso-friggin-lutely amazing! Reed & Company, you continue to blow me away…no pun intended!

I am curious about the RC plane… is it being flown "blind" or can the operator see from the planes perspective via the on-board cameras? What keeps the RC plane from being sucked in to the tornado? Is the plane equipped with GPS in case it does get caught up? Kudos to the RC pilot! (Not sure if that's the right term, but it's never stopped me before!!!)

As always, THANK YOU for sharing your work with us arm-chair chasers! Be safe and God Bless Ya!
T-Baby
 
 
+5 #7 DevilGirl 2009-06-25 11:01 That's pretty amazing. Congrats! Can't wait to hear what data you were able to gather and how that fits in with the radar info from the SRV.
 
 
-4 #8 ToledoWeatherSpotter 2009-06-25 19:08 Yeah, well we had a full day here in NW Ohio, had some severe storms roll through, first it was a tornadic one, which I saw an inflow tail that actually was a funnel, I realized it when it turn't towards the ground, and then the winds really picked up, I got video, but before it turnt because I ran out of memory, and I also almost got struck by lightning again, I have a severe headache due to it. -Brandon
 

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