They Fly Into the Eye of Ian and Other Major Storms. Who Are the Hurricane Hunters?

Sep. 26—Parachutes aren't an option for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" when they fly into Hurricane Ian as it intensifies on its way to Florida.

The Air Force Reservists volunteer for their mission and fly directly through the eye of the hurricane — then turn and come through again at a different entry point — then turn and do it again.

Some days, like when Hurricane Ike was intensifying over Cuba in 2008, the ride isn't too bumpy. At that time in history, the Hurricane Hunters' flights were the only U.S. military planes allowed in Cuban air space.

The next day, in mid-September 2008, Ike was intensifying as Ian is doing today on its way to Cuba, and the Hurricane Hunters had a bumpy, gut-wrenching ride through Ike's eye as the storm aimed for Texas.

The Hurricane Hunters have flown in to Ian several times and are providing vital reports to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and move into the Gulf of Mexico. Landfall near Tampa, Florida is expected but the track is uncertain.

Inside the Hurricane Hunters plane

In the place of parachutes on the sturdy WC-130Js the Hurricane Hunters fly are life vests should the plane go down in a storm. Parachutes couldn't be deployed in the 100 mph and higher wind speeds they encounter as they fly through the hurricanes. The sophisticated weather equipment on the planes help them avoid "hot spots" of severe weather and wind shear that could cause trouble.

There aren't seats beyond those for the basic crew of five: the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight meteorologist and weather reconnaissance loadmaster. The planes are outfitted with the latest technology to protect them as they fly day and night missions through the storm.

Media and other observers who ride on one of their flights sit on plastic benches along the sides of the plane, with the center left open for any payload. The "bathroom" for the crew and passengers is readied behind a curtain once the plane is in the air.

Hurricane Hunters are based in Biloxi, Mississippi

The 53rd WRS is unlike any other crew.

"It is the only operational unit in the world flying weather reconnaissance on a routine basis," according to the Hurricane Hunters' website.

The mission of the air reserve technicians and Air Force Reservists is to collect information that will help forecasters track the storm and residents decide whether to stay home or evacuate.

Once the Hurricane Hunters reach the tropical system, they send dropsondes through a tube throughout the flight through the storm. These weather instruments continuously transmit the pressure in the storm, humidity, temperature, the wind direction and speed until the instruments, with a parachute, hit the sea.

That information is used to calculate the track of a hurricane and where and when it might make landfall.

Honored for work during Hurricane Katrina

The Hurricane Hunters are based in Biloxi, just a couple of blocks from the beach. They post their experiences and findings on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and recently took the public along on a flight through Hurricane Fiona.

In Biloxi the Hurricane Hunters are rock stars, honored with a display in 2008 at Hard Rock Biloxi and later with a Christmas ornament featuring their plane as it passes the Biloxi Lighthouse.

In 2005, the Hurricane Hunters kept flying their missions as Hurricane Katrina was headed directly toward Keesler Air Force Base and their homes that mostly are in and around Biloxi. While their families and neighbors evacuated, they were collecting information on what would be a deadly and costly storm.

"Despite heavy damage to their home station caused by Hurricane Katrina, the unit continued its weather reconnaissance mission without missing a single tasking," their website says.

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Visit The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) at www.sunherald.com

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