The first set of charts to the right are from the NWS four-panel prog chart 2038
that told me two days in advance (Thursday) of the aproaching “Long Jump
conditions.” I shaded in what I considered to be the calm part of the surface
high at take off time.
I also marked on the 700 mb chart (10,000 feet), the location of the surface high,
the wind speed in knots where I expected to take off and where, by deduction, I
expected to land.
The second set of charts to the right are from the NWS four-panel prog chart
2046 for two hours before the take off. On the surface chart I marked the
location forcecast for the surface high at 1 hour after landing. On the 700 mb
chart I marked the forecast locations of the surface high at take off and landing,
and a proposed take off location and resulting flight track.
I received both the 2046 (36 hour prog chart) and 2047 (48 hour prog chart) on
Friday to confirm the planned launch, flight path, and landing areas. The flight is
scheduled for Saturday morning.
The third set of charts to the right are from the NWS four-panel prog chart 2047
for one hour after landing. On the 700 mb chart I made the same markings as
on the 700 mb chart for take off time. Both showed a flight towards western
Kentucky, where I expected to land, and onwards to southeastern Tennessee,
where I did land.
The important message here is that these are easy-to-read pictures. I hope the
reader can see how I read them and that I went exactly where these pictures
showed I would. I’m near-sighted, so I can take my glasses off and see
everything on these charts, but anyone can use a good magnifying glass to see
everything there. And those who have access to an enlarging photocopier can
simply enlarge them and at the same time increase the contrast.
