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The Lockheed WP-3D Orion is a highly modified P-3 Orion used by the
AOC description of the WP-3D
Military Officer magazine article on the WP-3D
1970s United States special-purpose aircraft P-003, W Four-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Four-engined turboprop aircraft National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration WP-3
The Lockheed WP-3D Orion is a highly modified P-3 Orion used by the Aircraft Operations Center
The Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) is the main base for the approximately nine aircraft of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government.
It is the home of the NOAA Hurricane Hunters. The NOAA Aircraft Op ...
division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Only two of these aircraft exist, each incorporating numerous features for the role of collecting weather information. During hurricane season, the WP-3Ds are deployed for duty as hurricane hunters. The aircraft also support research on other topics, such as Arctic ice coverage, air chemistry studies, and ocean water temperature and current analysis.
Design
The WP-3Ds are equipped with three weatherradar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, we ...
s, C band radar in the nose and on the lower fuselage, and an X-band radar in the aircraft's tail. They are also equipped with the ability to deploy dropsondes into storm systems, and have onboard temperature sensors, and other meteorological equipment. While the aircraft are not specially strengthened for flying into hurricanes, their decks were reinforced to withstand the additional equipment load.
It has a barber-pole sampler (named for its red-and-white stripes) that protrude from the aircraft's front, a tail Doppler weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar (WSR) and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate its type (rain, snow, hail etc.). Modern weather radars are mostly pulse- ...
, and other unique-looking instruments hanging from the wing.
Operational history
NOAA currently operates two WP-3Ds nicknamed ''Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is one of the Muppet characters known for her breakout role in Jim Henson's ''The Muppet Show''. Since her debut in 1976, Miss Piggy has been notable for her temperamental diva superstar personality, tendency to use French phrases i ...
'' and '' Kermit'', and their logos feature the characters created by Jim Henson Productions
The Jim Henson Company (formerly known as Muppets, Inc., Henson Associates, Inc., and Jim Henson Productions, Inc.; commonly referred to as Henson) is an American entertainment company located in Los Angeles, California. The company is known fo ...
. NOAA's other hurricane hunting aircraft, the Gulfstream IV-SP
The Gulfstream IV (or G-IV or GIV) and derivatives are a family of twinjet aircraft, mainly for private or business use. They were designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States, ...
, is named ''Gonzo
Gonzo may refer to:
People
* Gonzo (nickname), a list of people with the nickname
* Radislav Jovanov Gonzo (born 1964), Croatian music video director Radislav Jovanov, also known as Gonzo
* Matthias Röhr (born 1962), German musician whose sta ...
''; they complement the fleet of WC-130 aircraft operated by the United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known by its nickname, Hurricane Hunters, is a flying unit of the United States Air Force, and "the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes." Aligne ...
. As of 2014, the two Orions had each flown more than 10,000 hours and flown into more than 80 hurricanes.
Between 2015 and 2017, the aircraft received major overhauls, costing a total of $35 million. This work was performed by the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
's Fleet Readiness Center Southeast
Fleet Readiness Center Southeast is a U.S. Navy maintenance, repair and overhaul depot-level facility located onboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville with intermediate-level detachments at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and ...
in Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. The work included new wings and engines and upgraded radars and avionics. NOAA anticipates that these changes will allow the aircraft to fly until between 2032 and 2037.
Specifications (WP-3D Orion)
See also
Notes
* *External links
{{commons category, WP-3 Hurricane HunterAOC description of the WP-3D
Military Officer magazine article on the WP-3D
1970s United States special-purpose aircraft P-003, W Four-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Four-engined turboprop aircraft National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration WP-3