What a wondeful day to be thankful for, we have 3 balloons that are all reporting.

All three of our balloons are flying 32″ Sphere balloons. KD9UQB and AA6DY are flying the 32″ Yokohama Balloon and K9YO is flying the 32″ SAG Balloon. The different altutudes are due to the slight variations of the weight of the tracker and solar panel package. The other difference in the two balloons is the Yokohama is a transparent (clear) balloon and the SAG is silver, though both are available in multiple colors, we tend to go for the lighter ones for each manufacturer.

KD9UQB, also flying as W5KUB-115 is over the Southern Ocean, north of Antarctica, last reporting at Grid JD82KJ at 11:18 Central Standard time, at an altitude of 34,186 feet.

This is a little lower than our other balloons. KD9UQB is using the larger cylinder solar panel package that was weighing close to 18 grams, bringing the total package to over 20 grams compared to 9 grams for AA6DY.

What we’re really testing besides the solar panel is how well KD9UQB will report with the new tracker. You can track KD9UQB on this WSPR Spot Database or with all our balloons showing on one page on APRS AA6DY, K9YO, KD9UQB on APRS

After a little delay, Pico Balloon AA6DY reported at 06:52 UTC at Grid JI39RP near Sao Tome and Principe an African Island Nation close to the Equator. AA6DY is flying at an altitude of 14,540 meters, 47,691 feet.

Our “Best Guess” for AA6DY around November 27th 2022 East of Somalia over the Arabian Sea

Pico Balloon K9YO reported at 10:50 UTC at Grid IN04GI northwest of Portugal. K9YO is flying at an altitude of 12,600 meters, 41,328 feet.

Our “Best Guess” for K9YO around November 28th 2022, Russia/Ukraine border

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for all three of our balloons with the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Trajectory, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, APRS and Sondehub for tracking all Amatuer Radio Pico Balloons around the world.

The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us to acheive what we are today. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thankgiving Holiday.

73, Cary KD9ITO