Insitu Aerosonde Laima - Seattle, WA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member NW_history_buff
N 47° 31.088 W 122° 17.795
10T E 552958 N 5262984
One of many static aircraft displays located at the Museum of Flight at King County International Airport. Admission fees apply.
Waymark Code: WMVH16
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 04/18/2017
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member DougK
Views: 6

Located at the Museum of Flight are a large number of static aircraft on display. One of them is a Insitu Aerosonde Laima. The Museum of Flight website contains a page devoted to this aircraft and it reads:

Named Laima, after the ancient Latvian deity of good fortune. This little plane set a record by flying across the Atlantic without a pilot -- 71 years after Lindbergh's historic solo flight. On August 21, 1998, Laima became the first unmanned aircraft to cross the North Atlantic. The crossing was completed within 15 minutes of schedule after a flight of 2,044 miles in a time of 26 hours and 45 minutes.

Launched under manual control from a car roof rack at Bell Island Airport in Newfoundland, Canada, at 9:59 UTC on August 20, 1998, Laima was soon switched to the pre-programmed autonomous flight. Flying a route slightly to the south of the great circle route at an altitude of 5,511 feet, the Lamia headed for the landing site at Royal Air Force DERA Benbecual Range in the Outer Hebrides Islands of Scotland. Contacting the landing crew at 12:15 UTC the craft was brought in to land under manual control a half an hour later.

Aerosondes are designed to collect data over the ocean, where weather stations are few and far between. Their measurements of temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind within the atmosphere complement the "big picture" data provided by satellites. Someday Aerosondes may circulate regularly on weather-reconnaissance flights between Hawaii, Alaska, and the mainland. The information they gather will often allow improved weather forecasting for the West Coast.

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Insitu Aerosonde Laima

Tail Number: (S/N): None

Construction:: original aircraft

Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Museum of Flight

inside / outside: inside

Other Information:: Not listed

Access restrictions: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.
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