Vue de l’arrière du Falcon 20 de Safire

Rear view of the Falcon 20 belonging to Safire, the French facility for airborne research. Four atmospheric microphysics sensors are positioned under the wings. Under the fuselage, just left of centre, the dropsonde release chute is visible. Released from the plane during flight, these dropsondes have a parachute and carry pressure, temperature and humidity sensors. They are used to obtain vertical profiles of the atmosphere beneath the plane at various points of their trajectory. The Falcon 20 is a plane used for multidisciplinary research in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, in areas such as remote sensing, chemistry and microphysics. Safire is a unit dedicated to climatic and environmental research, satellite validation and aeronautical development. It uses planes for the benefit of scientific research as part of experimental campaigns.