Do you want to someday fly into a hurricane?

[SouthernWx]

Just curious....I've always had a fantasy to someday fly onboard a USAF or NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft on a reconnisance mission into a major hurricane. How about you?

Would you accept an offer to fly with the hurricane hunters onboard a reconnisance aircraft if offered, and if so....what category storm/ hurricane is your preference? (with me, the sky is the limit...I'd love to have flown into a cat-5 such as Allen, Gilbert, Mitch, Ivan, or Isabel at peak intensity...what a rush!!!)

***
Also, if you answer YES...which type of hurricane hunter aircraft would you prefer to fly on...NOAA P-3 Orion or a USAF C-130? While either would be totally awesome to me, I'd honestly prefer flying with the hurricane hunters out of Keesler AFB onboard a C-130; just because of the tradition...and see what those USAF guys flying into hurricane Camille experienced.

Perry

[Terry]

OMG, this is on the top of my Life List. Just gotta fly with a hurricane hunter....into a cat5 would be grande!

[air360]

I'd pay almost anything and would do it in a heartbeat to get up inside one of those canes....definently would enjoy the 130 though...although i would take either

[MGC]

Sign me up. When I toured Miss Piggy last month I tried to talk the crew into taking me along for a ride into a cane. I was willing to serve coffee, basically be a stewardess, they still said no......MGC

[BayouVenteux]

I dunno...after listening to Dr. Masters' story about his flight into Hugo, I'd just assume keep my two feet firmly on the ground, thank you. Having been in some hair-raising t-storm turbulence drops a couple times on commercial flights...lights flashing on and off, engines stuttering momentarily as the oxy masks drop, drinks and carry-ons flying about, women shreiking...all for a brief few seconds that seemed like an eternity, I'd hate to have that sensation for the extended period and the far greater extremes that a cat 5 eyewall would present.

[Derek Ortt]

may get to for the RAINEX project this year. Would be on a NOAA P3 or maybe a G-IV (cannot swim; thus, I am inelegible to fly on the Navy P-3 that is also a part of the project for this season)

[Brent]

I'd love too.

Who cares about the plane type!!!

[Cookiely]

may get to for the RAINEX project this year. Would be on a NOAA P3 or maybe a G-IV (cannot swim; thus, I am inelegible to fly on the Navy P-3 that is also a part of the project for this season)

Derek please please go and take some swimming lessons. Did something happen to make you unable to swim. My uncle almost drowned my mother when they were little. I was finally able to teach her to swim when she was about 35. In no time she was swimming circles around us kids. No one could hold their breath longer than my mother. It was amazing. To answer the question- no I would definitely not like to fly on a hurricane hunter plane. I flew once and when I landed I lost my hearing for three months. I don't think I want to chance flying ever again.

[HURAKAN]

At any time, at any minute. It will be a dream come true.

[Wnghs2007]

My Uncle was Maintanence for the Hurricane Hunters Down in Mac Dil Air Force Base in Tampa. It got too rough for him and he quit and went to work for customs!

Anyway, there was one storm that he flew into that was in the North Atlantic and it was a Cat 2 or 3 at the time and he said that at one point they pulled 6 G's in the thing. Everything was bouncing around and he got all bruised up and everything....It was interesting to say the least.

When he used to work for the Hurricane Hunters he would bring back all cool types of stuff. Like Video from inside the eye and when they were going thru the strongest part of the hurricane how the plane would shake violently. He also brought me post cards from some of the people that worked there and a bunch of other stuff like stickers and photos and everything. So I really enjoyed it when he flied.

You know the real reason he quit though...He was flying missions into Super Cells up in the Mid West, I forgot the reason why, but they got into this hecklashious(not a word) storm and lightning was hitting the plane and putting holes the size of bowling balls through it...and hail denting the exterior of the plane. Then 2 of there engines died and they dropped 18,000 ft really fast, and caught it like 1,500 ft above the ground...and he said that was enough for him...lol

[rtd2]

At any time, at any minute. It will be a dream come true.

Agreed! and EVERY 'Cane season I try to get a hop! Unless your Media or a Met its virtually impossible.I work at Keesler and Have many Freinds and contacts with the 403rd and 53rd WX Squadrons, but So far no go! I will continue to try!..I SO wanted to fly Ivan last year! B.T.W The runway is under renovation at Keesler so Alot of Missions will start out of Gulfport...

[rtd2]

My Uncle was Maintanence for the Hurricane Hunters Down in Mac Dil Air Force Base in Tampa. It got too rough for him and he quit and went to work for customs!

Anyway, there was one storm that he flew into that was in the North Atlantic and it was a Cat 2 or 3 at the time and he said that at one point they pulled 6 G's in the thing. Everything was bouncing around and he got all bruised up and everything....It was interesting to say the least.

When he used to work for the Hurricane Hunters he would bring back all cool types of stuff. Like Video from inside the eye and when they were going thru the strongest part of the hurricane how the plane would shake violently. He also brought me post cards from some of the people that worked there and a bunch of other stuff like stickers and photos and everything. So I really enjoyed it when he flied.

You know the real reason he quit though...He was flying missions into Super Cells up in the Mid West, I forgot the reason why, but they got into this hecklashious(not a word) storm and lightning was hitting the plane and putting holes the size of bowling balls through it...and hail denting the exterior of the plane. Then 2 of there engines died and they dropped 18,000 ft really fast, and caught it like 1,500 ft above the ground...and he said that was enough for him...lol

They Fly Aid missions and into T-Storms during the off season to Keep the PLANE and Pilots Certified...the older C130's (Flying Jenies) are still Certified for 'canes To date I DONT think the New C-130J models have been certified in 'Canes but have on aid missions and T-storms...I heard it had something to do with the composite props?...

[Derek Ortt]

was never taught to swim at a young age

[HurricaneGirl]

At any time, at any minute. It will be a dream come true.

Here, here! The stronger the better. According to the results thus, far 68% of us are in the same boat... or should I say plane?

[dhweather]

Perry, I never thought this would be such a polarizing poll.

It's essentially bimodal - "no way" or "cat 5" - very little in between.


I *was* going to get some one-on-one time with the Hurricane Hunters
for a day, but then my bro in law got sent back to Iraq. He'll be back in
August, so hopefully I'll get to visit then. I might be able to swing a flight,
that depends on a lot of things.

But If it falls through, so what, I've been in B52's, B1B's, KC130's, C5 Galaxy's, he's done a lot for me over the years. But he's a navigator and an offensive weapons officer, so he got to have all the fun. He's was the
#1 (most accurate) bomber in his squadron for six straight years. We're
very proud of him.

[AL Chili Pepper]

I've always thought that would be fun. When Arlene was just off the coast yesterday, I heard this prop engine plane fly by, fairly low. It was raining pretty hard and the wind was gusting to 20 or 25 mph and my first thought was "What kind of idiot would be out in this?". Surely they have some kind of rule about that.

My second thought was "could it be?".

[Wpwxguy]

I'd go into a Cat 5 given the chance. Only I'd like to be at the controls. I'm a student pilot and hope to one day be able to fly one of those big babies. Probably will never happen, unless I can get into the NOAA research flights. Not gonna happen.
LOL It would be an experience to say the least.

[StormChasr]

I've flown in C130's, and F-14's, but would not be too cool about flying into a hurricane.

[Aquawind]

Bring it! I'll Take 2!

Paul

[Aquawind]

I've flown in C130's, and F-14's, but would not be too cool about flying into a hurricane.

Really? Huh.. I better bring a harness..

Paul