Gather local wind data

As Tony said, we can have really inacurate forecasts here. Mainly because our closest sounding sites are either the other side of the Marfa Dry Line, far enough upwind that even though there are no obvious airmass boundaries, the airmass is definitely different (look at OLC posts from Hinton, OK versus Sunflower on 7-20-2012), or far downwind into the armpit of the soaring world (Topeka, KS). A local sounding is really needed to know what might happen.

As for hiring an ultralight, that would probably cost at least as much each time as a helium balloon. And remember. We are in Kansas. The reason I was thinking of using kites is because the wind blows. Lots. And many days, the ultralight pilot will either not be available or willing to go. I have a couple of hundred dollars worth of kites and high strength line. Now, I just need a small data package to put onboard!

Those are neat loggers, but I didn't see one that measures pressure (altitude). Without that, you have nothing. What we are really looking for is "will it go to at least 3000?" The day's Tony mentioned were 5000 MSL, or 3500 AGL. With a saounding to even 3000, we would know what we would be up against.

I sense the technology is available now, but maybe just not for a mass market. Hoping Andres is still watching this thread.

Steve