Feasibility Study of A-10 for Storm Penetration

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA

Investigators

Abstract

The retirement of the armored T-28 Storm Penetration Aircraft, operated and maintained by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, left a gap in the ability to penetrate convective storms to study cloud physics, hydrometeors, electrical phenomena, and providing in situ data for ground based remote sensing instruments. Two workshops had identified an A-10 aircraft as being potential replacement for the T-28 as well as a platform that could provide more extensive service to the geosciences community. The study is an extensive engineering analysis of the A-10?s applicability to meet current and projected science requirements. The results of this study will determine the financial and physical constraints to operate the A-10 as a national facility for the National Science Foundation.