| DC-8 Aircraft Maneuvers | ||||
| Instrument Acronym | Preferred Maneuvers | Dropsondes | Unfavorable Maneuvers | Unfavorable WX Conditions |
| ARMAR | Level flight lines; Some banking desired | One near data collection area (no rain/light rain) | ||
| AVAPS | Sharp turns | Heavy rain, large hydrometeors | ||
| CAPAC | Steep (>1000 feet per minute) descents and ascents | |||
| JPL SAW | Rapid descent from cold, dry conditions to warm, humid conditions | Rain | ||
| Laser Hygrometer | Sharp turns may affect optical alignment. | Rain on ground | ||
| LASE | Moderate to high altitude (> 25 kft) | Attitudes where zenith port axis is < 15 deg. relative to sun | Clouds (data collected between aircraft & clouds) | |
| LIP | Straight, level flight paths; 1-2 Banking maneuvers required per experiment for calibration |
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| MACAWS | Straight lines at constant altitudes of 1000 - 41000 ft; Spiral ascents/descents in optically-clear eye; Orbits of 5-30 km diameter over a ground point | 1-2 per mission in relatively clear area | Frequent changes in heading or altitude; Exceeding ground speed of 450 kt; Drift angle < 10 degrees | Optically-dense clouds, precipitation, extremely clean air |
| MMS | Five sinusoidal pitching cycles, five sinusoidal yawing cycles, and square box pattern spanning 0-360 deg of heading. Once per flight in "calm" air at a specific MACH number for instrument calibration | cold wet cloud encounters | ||
| PSR | Straight and level flight at altitudes between 30,000' and 45,000' from at least two different non-orthogonal flight directions Brief 60o left rolls | 3-5 per mission | None | None |
