Civvie Science Flight 32

Val is getting suited up and ready for briefing. Weather at the end of last day cycle was pretty bad with thick low clouds but hopefully 2nd sunrise will see improvement as today's mission is very time-sensitive

Jeb is heading out to do an exterior check of Civvie #3, which has a barometer in one of its instrument bays. So does Civvie #2, but it's also got the atmospheric scoop and there's no sense lugging that along on this mission. Val is going over the mission plan with Flight Control

latest weather shows winds within takeoff limits out of the SE, clouds still low @ 2.8km but more scattered. We're currently checking with airship companies on weather further north where Val is headed

Val is heading out to preflight. Decision made to fly north along the coast to stay low until weather improves then cut inland towards target area. If Val encounters any adverse conditions she will turn back for KSC

flying low at first means we can't fully load the rear fuel tank, but Val should still have enough to get there and back, with Kravass General Airport a closer option if needed

sunrise looking out from the Administration Building. Definitely better conditions that previous day cycle. Val has just received clearance to taxi out to turf Runway 09 for takeoff

already heading north along the bay, Val had a good departure and is now climbing through 800m, flaps fully up, aiming to level off at 1km to stay well clear of clouds and any turbulent air

last contact with Val before she dropped below the horizon was all systems nominal and proceeding as planned with the mission. She will check-in later via an airship enroute to Umbarg from Sheltered Rock

airship passing by us on its way to Umbarg reports they were contacted by Val as planned, she is in good flying conditions and continuing on after turning inland to make for the objective

Kravass radio tower has picked up Val's signal 30km out from the target area. She reports mostly clear skies with no sign of any storms. Researchers asking her for data collection anyways so they can maybe see where their forecast models went wrong

data collection complete, some weather closed in but still not what was expected. Val has enough fuel to make it back to KSC but weather still not great over here so we have diverted her to the nearby Kravass General Airport

the view from 3.2km ASL as Val heads towards Kravass; the mountain's higher peak to the right is where the 160m tall radio tower is located

about 30km out from KGA Val has begun her descent, COM2 radio tuned to the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency so she can announce her location & intent to other pilots - approach corridor to KGA is very narrow as it's boxed in by the mountains

field in sight! Airspace is clear and Val has announced her intention to enter the traffic pattern to land Runway 12. If any pilots out there want a better idea of what KGA's layout is like, here is the airport diagram: bit.ly/KGA_APD

Val is taxiing back to the parking area after a gnarly approach - she forgot how challenging the landing is here compared to KSC. She will attempt to fly back to KSC next day cycle.

On her latest mission Val managed to just beat out Jeb's previous bit.ly/KSARecords of 343.82km for distance flown from KSC over land with 345.078km. She now holds all the aircraft flight records except fastest velocity

we apologize again for failing to register our shortlink prior to publishing, causing a web bot to note the dead link & create one to a spam site :/ Horrible scammers out there. Catch up on this week's activities w/additional insight here: kerbalspace.agency/?p=6168