A new flying laboratory of Hydrometeorological Center of Russia derived from Yak-42 aircraft will be presented at MAKS-2013 airshow, Izvestiya reports with reference to a source close to the Hydrometeorological Center.
According to him, the aircraft fitted with unique weather equipment will help forecast weather, detect oncoming thunderhead, transmit information online and carry out cloud seeding.
It is the first and the world’s best flying laboratory developed over the last 20 years, — the source noted. — It is derived from Yak-42D aircraft; at present the jet is at the site of Myasishchev design bureau. The ground testing of weather equipment is underway and after that the jet will be ferried to Kazan in order to install the interior».
According to the manufacturer, the laboratory is fitted with seven software systems able to solve a wide range of problems: monitor the current status of the atmosphere, predict the approach of a thunderhead, measure the radiation level intensity, etc. All the obtained data may be transmitted online via satellite, — the source added. — It will help ground services to obtain data on-the-fly and take necessary measures. For the first time ever the aircraft was fitted with nitrogen generator capable of spraying 1024 charges of reagent intended for cloud seeding. Earlier the maximum capacity was 500 charges. The jet performed its maiden flight in late July in Zhukovsky (Moscow Region).
Russia News