From the 1970s to the 1990s this Schweizer 2-32 sailplane operated by NCAR flew research missions measuring water droplet, ice, precipitation particle spectra, liquid water content, electric field and vertical air motion within thunderstorms. The sailplane was towed by a Cessna 180 to an altitude of approximately 6 kilometers. Upon release, the sailplane made measurements during a total flight time of approximately 5 hours.
