Aqueous concentrations of ionic species observed in cloud water studies often have been in conflict with expectations from model predictions. These inconsistencies result from the size-dependent chemical composition of cloud drops during different stages in the lifetime of a cloud. To study this phenomenon, droplets of clouds need to be collected in different size ranges with high resolution in space and time. The only possibility for this kind of study is the use of an aircraft. Therefore, during the last several years, an attempt was made to develop a mobile cascade impactor, which can be installed outside an aircraft. The cloud water sampled in different size fractions can be transferred into the interior of the aircraft during the measuring flight. The collector is able to sample two size fractions. For continental clouds, the cutoffs are chosen to be >5 and >13.5 μm in diameter. For maritime clouds, the cutoff for the first stage could be shifted to 18.6 μm by lowering the nozzle speed. Prior to field application, the collector was characterized with the aid of ''calibration fogs'' produced in the laboratory with different drop sizes and different chemical compositions. The characterization included the examination of the cutoffs and the reliability of the sampling procedure with regard to the subsequent chemical analysis. With a collection period of 2 min, collection rates in the order of 0.1-1 cm 3 min - 1 can be obtained. The collector characterized in this manner was successfully used during measuring flights in clouds over northern Germany. Preliminary concentrations of NH 4 + , SO 4 2 - and Cl - found in the two size fractions of the cloud drops are presented.