BLT 37
(...not sure kind of lost track LOL)
Flight to the Caribbean!
(...not sure kind of lost track LOL)
Flight to the Caribbean!
On May 24th at 18:40 GMT (01:40 PM CST) The BLT team launched another long range floater. The tiny system was beaconing out GPS and related data on the APRS frequency of 144.39. The little unit was air born quickly and rose at a calculated rate of 66.67 ft/min. The ground breezes created some swirling air currents and we all held our breath at the ting machine rose into the sky.
After a couple of tumbles from a low level down draft the package straightened out and began to rise heading to the heading of North by North East. After a few minutes the packets were starting to appear on the APRS network and the flight had begun.
Throughout the afternoon we watched it flow across Houston and nearby towns, it finally crossed the Ship channel and went out toward the Gulf of Mexico. By late that evening the transmitter had made it far off shore and was south of Lafayette Louisiana and was going strong. Things then fell silent as the package went out into the Gulf… Would we hear from the Balloon again?
Early Sunday the Balloon beaconed out over the Gulf as it moved into the range of APRS stating in Florida! It’s alive! Now on a general course for the Florida Keys she continued to beacon until it got dark over Florida. At over 26000 ft it was showing good flight and was going well.
The Finial signals were picked up as the Balloon neared the Florida Keys Highway and it was flying well. Not sure how far the package went but it was a great flight for sure.
After a couple of tumbles from a low level down draft the package straightened out and began to rise heading to the heading of North by North East. After a few minutes the packets were starting to appear on the APRS network and the flight had begun.
Throughout the afternoon we watched it flow across Houston and nearby towns, it finally crossed the Ship channel and went out toward the Gulf of Mexico. By late that evening the transmitter had made it far off shore and was south of Lafayette Louisiana and was going strong. Things then fell silent as the package went out into the Gulf… Would we hear from the Balloon again?
Early Sunday the Balloon beaconed out over the Gulf as it moved into the range of APRS stating in Florida! It’s alive! Now on a general course for the Florida Keys she continued to beacon until it got dark over Florida. At over 26000 ft it was showing good flight and was going well.
The Finial signals were picked up as the Balloon neared the Florida Keys Highway and it was flying well. Not sure how far the package went but it was a great flight for sure.
Above shows the entire flight of BLT37, the little Caribbean Express!
Above Shows Finial L.O.S. at the Florida Keys Great Flight guys!