Hurricane Hunters
Yes they really fly into Hurricanes!
This Page:
Live Recon Data
Schedule
About the Aircraft
Equipment Used
Stock Aircraft Image/Video
History
Other Weather Recon Aircraft
"The information collected makes possible advance warning of hurricanes and increases the accuracy of hurricane predictions and warnings by as much as 20 percent" -USAF 403rd Wing
Live Recon Data
Visual Data Feeds:
Live data is transmitted in raw text format but websites such as these help display that data with maps, colors and more. Check dates/time to verify if latest run.
(Select flight from drop down or scroll down page)
(Select flight top left corner)
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Track Flight Path by Tail Number:
While no storm data, you can still sometimes see their flight paths via your app or website of choice. Search for the following tail number shown in "quotations". Note dates & time on page.
FlightAware track of Teal71 during "Dorian" 6 Sept. 2019
NOAA Hurricane Hunters:
USAF Hurricane Hunters:
"Teal70" WC-130J
NASA:
(See other NWS/NOAA research aircraft in 'Other Weather Recon Aircraft' section for tracking below)
Schedule
Find when and where USAF and NOAA planes will fly into storms
NHC issues two schedules: For Today & For Tomorrow
Typically released daily around 11amEDT+/-
Plans may be modified at any time due to change in storm, mechanical issues, weather, etc.
Areas covered: Atlantic, Central & East Pacific
Today's Plan (released day before):
Tomorrow's Plan (released today):
How to Read Plan of the Day
Example format when flights scheduled, key points in Bold:
********Sample Text Start********
Note: Time in 'Zulu' which is four hours ahead of EDT (ie: 1230Z = 830amEDT)
000
NOUS42 KNHC ######
REPRPD
Weather Reconnaissance Flights
CARCAH, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL.
1145 am EDT Wed 16 June 2021 (Time and date last updated)
Subject: Tropical Cyclone Plan of the Day (TCPOD)
Valid: 17/1100Z to 18/1100Z June 2021 (Dates and time covered in schedule)
TCPOD Number.....21-###
I. Atlantic Requirements
1. Subject Area (Off Southeast US coast) (Storm name or general area)
Flight One - NOAA 49 (Plane number: NOAA ## = NOAA, Teal ## = USAF)
A. 17/1730Z (Storm fix(location) date/time)
B. AFxxx 01AAA Invest (Mission ID)
C. 17/1515Z (Departure date/time)
D. 21.0 N 93.0W (Fix/Storm forecast coordinates)
E. 17/1700Z to 17/2200Z (Dates/time in storm)
F. Sfc to 10,000ft (Altitude range in storm)
G. (Optional comments)
2. Outlook for succeeding day: Continue 6-hourly fixes if system develops (How often new flights to be scheduled)
II. Pacific Requirements
1. Negative reconnaissance requirements
********Sample Text End********
Additional info: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/recon.php
About the Aircraft
NOAA:
Based out of: Lakeland, FL - Linder Regional Airport
Lockhead WP-3D Orion: N42RF "Kermit" & N43RF "Miss Piggy"
Photo: Lt. Cmdr. Mitchell, NOAA Corps, N42RF "Kermit" (to left), N43RF "Miss Piggy" (to right), St. Croix Sept. 18, 2020
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Four engine turboprop
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Deploys GPS Dropwindsondes
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Deploys Coyote UAV
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Deploys Bathythermograph (AXBT)
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Three weather radars
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Step Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR)
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Precipitation and cloud particle probes
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Crew: 8 to 21
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Max Range: (altitude dependent)
2,500-3,800 nautical miles
2,877-4,373 miles
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Max flight time: 9.5-11.5 hours (altitude dependent)
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Wing span: 99'-8", Length: 116'-10"
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Ceiling: 27,000ft
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Built: 1975 (N42RF), 1976 (N43RF)
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Planes in service: 2 (N42RF & N43RF)
Hurricane missions: Fill in radar and satellite data gaps via low altitude data collection in and around storms.
General weather missions: Study and record data of Earth's atmosphere and environment in support of monitoring hurricanes, severe weather, oceanographic, atmospheric and climate trends.
View more specs: https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/aircraft-operations/aircraft/lockheed-wp-3d-orion
Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV): N49RF "Gonzo"
Photo: Tim Smith, N49RF "Gonzo", Portland, OR International Airport 2020
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Twin jet engine
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GPS Dropwindsondes
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Tail weather radar (TDR)
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Crew: 8 to 9
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Planes in service: 1 (N49RF)
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Max Range: 3,600+ nautical miles (4,143+ miles)
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Max flight time: 8.75+ hours
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Wing span: 77.83', Length: 87.58'
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Ceiling: 45,000ft
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Built: 1994
Hurricane missions: Sample upper atmosphere around and above tropical systems.
General weather missions: High altitude observations of weather systems in upper atmosphere.
View more specs: https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/aircraft-operations/aircraft/gulfstream-iv-sp-g-iv
Gulfstream 550: Testing 2022, Operational by 2024
Photo: Gulfstream
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Twin jet engine
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Max Range: 6,750 nautical miles (7,768 miles)*
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Wing span: 93'-6", Length: 96'-5"
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Ceiling: 51,000ft
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Built: 2022
*Range will depend on final modifications & equipment loaded
Mission: Similar to G-IV N49RF with high altitude observations of weather systems in upper atmosphere sampling around and above tropical systems.
USAF:
Based out of: Biloxi, MS - Keesler Air Force Base
Lockhead WC-130J:
Photo: Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman, WC-130J Super Hercules, Keesler AFB Biloxi, MS July 6, 2021
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Four engine turboprop
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Deploys GPS Dropsondes
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Step Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR)
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Crew: 5
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Planes in service: 10 (Teal70 thru Teal79)
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Average weather mission: 11 hours
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Max flight time: 18 hours
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Average weather mission range: 3,000 nautical miles (3,500 miles)
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Wing span: 132'-7", Length: 97'-9"
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Ceiling: 28,000ft+
Mission: Obtain size, intensity and movement of tropical systems and winter storms.
View more specs: https://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/192525/wc-130j-hercules/
NASA:
Based out of: Edwards, CA - NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
Northrop Grumman Global Hawk Drone: "Severe Storm Sentinels"
Photo: NASA871 Global Hawk Drone, Edwards Air Force Base, CA Jan. 11, 2012
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Turbofan jet engine
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Operated by pilots on the ground in USA
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Part of Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) project
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Part of SHOUT & multiple other projects
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Range: 8,500+ nautical miles (9,782+ miles)
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Max flight time: 24-30+ hours (payload/weather dependent)
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Ceiling: 60,000ft+
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Wing span: 130.9', Length: 47.6'
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Planes in service: 1 (NASA872), NASA871: retired
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NASA871(retired) (Over-storm payload):
- High-Altitude MMIC Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR)
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High-altitude belly radar (HIWRAP)
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Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)
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NASA872 (Environment payload):
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Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL)
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Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS)
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Deploys up to (88) GPS Dropsondes (AVAPS)
Mission: Understand the processes of tropical cyclone formation and storm intensity changes, severe and winter storm research.
View more info: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/aircraft/GlobalHawk/index.html
Equipment
Radars, dropsondes, etc.
Why Propeller Engines?
Hurricane Hunter aircraft use propeller engines to fly through storms
More efficient for low altitude missions
Better adapted to lower speed requirements
Propellers offer greater hail tolerance, if encountered
Better suited for heavy rain environment
NOAA Planes: N42RF, N43RF
USAF Planes: TEAL70 through TEAL79
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Interior of planes
You won't find rows of first class passenger seats inside.
Instead computer stations throughout will greet you
Radar, communications, and more!
Equipment and gear that may be launched (dropsondes, AXBT, etc.)
Life-rafts (just in case...)
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Dropsondes (AVAPS)
Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS)
16" long, 2.75" diameter cardboard tube with instruments inside
Delivers atmospheric data as falls from aircraft to surface
Parachute deploys upon launch to slow decent
Sends signal back to aircraft in real time
Measures vertical profile of: Temperature, humidity & pressure
GPS enabled for tracking & wind speed/direction
Credited with improving Hurricane forecast up to 20%
Expendable - deployed once
Dozens may be deployed per mission in total
For more detailed description: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/observing_facilities/avaps-dropsonde-system
For model types, accuracy rating etc: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/node/11708
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Coyote UAS
Coyote is stored folded up in a tube, launched from aircraft
Once launched tube falls away allowing Coyote to unfold
Unfolded: Wingspan: 1.5m(4.9ft), Length: .9m(2.9ft), wgt. 13LBS.
Focus on low level storm measurements (PBL) in Hurricane eye walls
Increases knowledge of hurricane boundary layer structure, intensity change
Measures: Temperature, moisture, sea surface temperature, pressure and wind speed / direction.
Launched in calm eye to fly into eye wall or launched outside eye wall in storm to eventually reach eye wall (inflow), eventually crashes into sea.
Flight time: 60+minutes, range: 50+miles
Maintainable altitude: Down to less than 120m(400ft)
For more detailed description: https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/101/2/bams-d-19-0169.1.xml
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Airborne EXpendable Bathythermograph (AXBT)
Measures the temperature vertical profile in bodies of water
Launched from aircraft in tube about 36" long, about 5" diameter
Parachute lowers to water surface where floats
Floating base station deploys sensor attached by unwinding wire
The sensor measures water temperature every 1.5m (4.9ft)
Signal sent back to base station where antenna transmits data to aircraft
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Onboard Weather Radars
Aircraft may have all or just some of these installed.
Nose: Flight safety purpose, under the nose cone. C-Band radar
Lower Fuselage(Belly/LF): Large oval protrusion on lower fuselage. Similar to ground based radar. C-Band radar.
Tail (TDR): Provides near vertical radar & wind image slices. X-Band radar.
For more on NOAA P3 radars see: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/about_hrd/HRD-P3_radar.html
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Step Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR)
Continuously measures wind data, estimated wind maxima and rain rates directly below aircraft.
Mounted underneath the aircraft.
Detects microwave radiation emitted from sea foam created by storm on ocean surface.
Also known as "smurfs"
Note: See HIRAD further below for newer wide-swath version.
Learn more: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/about_hrd/HRD-P3_sfmr.html
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)
Based on Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) and Lightweight Rainfall Radiometer (LRR).
Provides wide-swath detection capability (compared to SFMR's directly below aircraft only capability)
Able to measure up to 80+km (50+miles) swath at a time, can encompass entire Hurricane eye.
Measures wind speed and rainfall rates.
Tested on NASA WB-57 and NASA Global Hawk drone "NASA871"
Expected to transition to satellite based in the future.
Additional info: https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/HIRAD
Additional info: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28919665/
Additional info: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7729&context=etd
Click an image for photo credit, date, location, etc.
High Altitude Winds and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP)
Dual frequency, dual band conical radar system
cOMING SOON.......
Additional info:
Precipitation and cloud particle probes
Coming soon
Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)
Based on Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) and Lightweight Rainfall Radiometer (LRR).
Provides wide-swath detection capability (compared to SFMR's directly under aircraft capability)
Measures wind speed and rainfall rates.
Tested on NASA Global Hawk drone "NASA871"
Expected to transition to satellite based in the future.
coming soon
Additional info: https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/HIRAD
Additional info: https://data.eol.ucar.edu/dataset/488.005
Additional info: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28919665/
Additional info: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7729&context=etd
Air-Launched Autonomous Micro Observer (ALAMO)
High-Altitude MMIC Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR)
Measures temperature, water vapor, and liquid water in the atmosphere.
...Coming soon...
Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL)
Lidar system, operates three nm wavelengths
Multi-wavelength measurements of cirrus & aerosols
Learn more: https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/CPL
Additional info here: https://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/home/micro-articles/instrument-cloud-physics-lidar-cpl
Photo: via NASA website
Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS)
Interferometer(purposely merge light sources to create interference pattern)
This particular interference pattern measures thermal radiation
That measurement resolution: 3.3 - 18 microns
In turn this gives temperature and water vapor in Earth's atmosphere
Sounding data produced resolution: 2km over 40km ground swath
Read more: https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/S-HIS
Photo: W. Townley
Stock Aircraft Imagery/Videos
Most are free to use - see sites for credit to be given / policy
NOAA Hurricane Hunter imagery:
Note: Change "Topic" to "Hurricane Hunters", then "Apply". NOAA photos of Hurricane Hunter aircraft, personnel, other equipment and storms. Click item for photo details, credit and copyright.
NOAA Hurricane Hunter Videos:
Note: Change "Topic" to "Hurricane Hunters", then "Apply". NOAA videos of Hurricane Hunter aircraft, personnel, other equipment and storms. Click item for video details, credit and copyright.
USAF Hurricane Hunter imagery / videos:
Click item for image details, credit and copyright.
Global Hawk Drone Imagery:
Click item for image details, credit and copyright.
Global Hawk Drone Video:
Click item for image details, credit and copyright.
History
It all started on a bet...seriously!
Coming soon...flights to see where storm is 1930's...
First flight into eye:
July 27, 1943 - Colonel Joe Duckworth completes the first known flights through the eye of a Hurricane after an earlier bet in a bar between US and British pilots. Flying a North American T-6 Texan Colonel Duckworth flew two separate flights on the same day, once along side a navigator (Lieutenant Ralph O'Hair) and on the other a weather officer (Lieutenant William Jones-Burdick). The storm was known as the 1943 'Surprise Hurricane' that made landfall into Galveston, TS area that day. They described the flight as very turbulent and when came upon the eye remarked its shape as that of a leaning cone which sounds similar to the 'stadium effect' description seen in more intense storms today.
Photo: N42RF Tampa, FL Jan. 18, 2017 by Lt. Kevin Doremus (NOAA)
Additional information on 53rd WRS history: https://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/192529/53rd-weather-reconnaissance-squadron-hurricane-hunters/
NWS account of 1943 'Surprise Hurricane': https://www.weather.gov/hgx/projects_1943surprisehurricane
Other Weather Recon Aircraft
So much Atmosphere, so few planes
Coming soon
Other Weather Reconnaissance & Research Aircraft:
"WARLOCK 587" (NRL)
Interactive NOAA/NASA Weather Aircraft Map: