Collection of Ice Particles from Aircraft Using Decelerators

The design, evaluation and field testing of two devices (called decelerators) for reducing the velocities with respect to an aircraft of airborne cloud and precipitation particles are described. With the aid of these decelerators delicate ice crystals in excess of 1 mm in size can be collected without breakage from aircraft flying at 50 m sec−1, and somewhat smaller ice crystals can be collected intact at aircraft speeds up to 100 m sec−1.