PUMA Project - Aircraft Instrumentation
For the PUMA project, the Cessna was equipped with the following instruments:
- Scintrex LMA-4 fast response NOx analyser.
- Particle Measurement Systems (PMS) Active Scattering Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (ASASP-X) - 20Hz aerosol size distribution 0.1-3µm diamter.
- LiCor 6262 fast response CO2 and H2O analyser.
- TSI model 3010 condensation particle counter - total aerosol number >10nm. For this project this instrument was fitted with diffusion disks to increase the lower cut off to 50nm. The reason for this was to avoid saturating the counter in high concentrations.
- KT19 Infra-red surface temperature sensor (3deg solid angle).
- UMIST 5-hole turbulence probe - 50Hz turbulence data.
- Mitchel Dew Point Hygrometer.
All these instruments, along with aircraft parameters such as position, alititude, air speed, temperature etc., were logged to the on-board data aquisition system. During the PUMA project the aircraft operated from it's home base at Woodford airfield. The two person crew consisted of the pilot and a scientific observer to monitor the instruments, and make observations of the general conditions experienced during the flight.
Instruments installed on the Cessna for PUMA
Instruments in the rear of the Cessna cabin, showing the LMA-4, LiCor 6262, TSI 3010, Mitchel Hygrometer and the data aquisition system.
The Active Scattering Aerosol Spectrometer Probe mounted beneath the main instrument shelf in the rear of the Cessna cabin.
The KT19 Infra-red surface temperature thermometer mounted on the cabin floor so as to look directly down through a hole in the floor.
The UMIST 5-hole turbulence probe mounted under the wing of the aircraft. Measurements are actually taken at the tip of the long boom protruding from the front of the instrument. This is to ensure that the turbulence measurements are not affected by any disturbance caused by the aircraft itself.