just a heads up NASA DC-8 is doing a 5-hr mission shakedown into the storms off of LA... if you have google earth... see link to a real time update, last check there we just east of houston... (note.. when the global hawk goes up for a test flight later this week... it will be real time here too!) **today there loading the GPS Dropsonde parts in... preparing the aircarft for flights later**

Mission synopsis:

No NOAA missions are planned in the next 24 h. Consideration was given
to a mission into ex-TD05 but due to its anticipated short duration over
water, no flights are planned. NOAA is watching PGI27L for signs of
development.

The DC-8 has a takeoff time of 15 UTC 17 August for a 5-hour shakedown
mission and exploration of convection associated with ex-TD05 (or
renewed TD05 if it organizes) over the extreme northern Gulf of Mexico.

The G-V is scheduled to takeoff at 10 UTC 17 August for a 6-h flight
into PGI27L. The flight pattern is a lawnmower pattern with north-south
oriented legs fit into roughly an east-west-elongated rectangle centered
south of the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday, August 18, a takeoff time
of 10 UTC has been proposed to further investigate PGI27L during an 8-h
mission.

http://grip.nsstc.nasa.gov/reporting/