Weather forecast postpones high-altitude Amateur Radio balloon launch

An unfavorable weather forecast at the launch and recovery sites has led sponsors to postpone the launch of the ARBONET-2 high-altitude balloon, which will carry an Amateur Radio payload. Originally was set to go April 27, ARBONET-2 now will take flight Saturday, May 5, 9 AM CDT (1400 UTC), from the Red River County Airport in Clarksville, Texas. Using the call sign K5FRC, the “Amateur Radio Balloons over North East Texas” mission will carry a crossband repeater (445.800 MHz up/147.560 MHz down), APRS (144.390 MHz) and a homing and data beacon (145.560 MHz). A 10-meter CW beacon on 28.061 MHz will identify as K5RWK. The ARBONET-2 flight is being dedicated to long-time Amateur Radio high-altitude balloon enthusiast Kim R. Miles, N9IS, who died March 27. He was a prominent member of the Central Indiana Windtrax organization with more than 30 high-altitude balloon flight operations to his credit. A launch net (K5FRC) will commence at 8:30 AM CDT (1330 UTC) on launch day and continue until recovery on 7.260 MHz (plus or minus QRM). The flight is expected to last about two hours. The ARBONET team requests reception reports to the ARBONET Web site. A commemorative QSL card will be available for those submitting reports.http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7409

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