TM 11-6660-218-12
ing balloon nozzle (see charts given in
(8) A sounding balloon may be inflated im-
(4) and (6) (a) and (b) below).
mediately after conditioning.
(4) The chart given below is used as a guide
h. Inflattion of Sounding Balloons Using Nozzle
to determine the amount of free lift re-
ML-196.
quired for sounding balloons during fair
weather. The chart also specifies calcium
(1) Nozzle ML-196 weighs 1,500 grams and
hydride charges normally used to produce
is issued with weights (100, 200, 400, 500,
and 1,000 grams).
Set AN/TMQ-3 is used for inflation.
(2) Shake out the sounding balloon to re-
move the powder inside; then roll up the
WARNING
sounding balloon to expel all the air. At-
Should any corroded, pitted,
tach the neck of the sounding balloon to
scarred, or broken ML-304A/
the sounding balloon nozzle with a short
TM, ML-305A/TM, or ML-
piece of twine.
387/TM canisters be found,
(3) The weights required (in addition to the
follow all steps as shown on the
sounding balloon nozzle ) to balance the
warning page to render the
desired total lift are placed on the sound-
canisters safe.
Inflation of sounding balloons
Number of charges using AN/TMQ-3
Free lift
Balloon type
(grams)
ML-305A
ML-304A
Use
ML-587/U
Day
and
1
or
3
1,600
ML-537/UM
5
and
1
4
1,900
6
or
ML-537/UM
Night
3
and
2
2
Day
1,100
or
ML-635/UM
1,300
o
1
or
ML-635/UM
4
and
Night
(5) Determine the required nozzle lift, which
Weather
Weight (grams )
is defined as the total weight in grams,
Precipitation of light intensity (all bal-
200
to be balanced by the inflated sounding
loon types).
balloon to assure the desired ascension
400
Heavy precipitation and/or icing (all
rate.
balloon types ).
(6) The chart ( (a) below) lists the weights
600 to 1,200
Average zonal winds exceeding 60 knots
of the usual sounding balloon attach-
(spherical-type balloons).
ments used in the balloon train. The chart
( (b) below) indicates the additional
Example: An example of the computation
weights necessary to compensate for ad-
of the nozzle lift required for a typical day-
verse weather conditions.
time radiosonde flight using Balloon ML-537/
(a) Weight of sounding balloon attach-
UM is as follows:
ments are as follows:
1,600 grams
Required free lift from
(a) above
Weight (grams)
Attachment
-
1,350
grams
Weight (radoisonde set
1,200
Radiosonde Set AN/AMT4(*), with
and parachute ) from
battery.
(b) above
Radiosondc Set AN/AMT12, with bat-
3,000 grams
Nozzzle lift required
tery.
(highest 100 grams)
15
Lighting Unit ML-608 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(7) Using the example given above, enough
150
Parachute ML-132
weight must be attached to Nozzle ML-
100
196 so that the total weight of the sound-
Reel, Launching ML-367/AM _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
ing balloon nozzle and the weights is
equal to the weight of the sounding bal-
(b) Additional weights for foul weather
loon and attachments, plus the free lift
are as follows:
Change 8
3-4
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