275:
29:
184:
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.
551:
266:. 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.
750:
244:. As of 2014, the two Orions had each flown more than 10,000 hours and flown into more than 80 hurricanes. NOAA plans to replace these two aircraft with modified
725:
299:
Up to 22 (2 pilots, flight engineer, navigator, flight director, 2–3 engineering/electronics specialists, radio/avionics specialist and up to 12 scientists)
160:. The aircraft also support research on other topics, such as Arctic ice coverage, air chemistry studies, and ocean water temperature and current analysis.
145:
85:
496:
559:
152:. Only two of these aircraft exist, each incorporating numerous features for the role of collecting weather information. During the
745:
735:
251:
Between 2015 and 2017, the aircraft received major overhauls, costing a total of $ 35 million. This work was performed by the
710:
379:
3,800 nmi (4,400 mi, 7,000 km) at high altitude; 2,500 nmi (2,900 mi; 4,600 km) at low altitude
582:
705:
241:
440:
689:
256:
149:
608:
755:
453:
740:
730:
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141:
521:
153:
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62:
47:
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260:
67:
497:"No off-season for science and NOAA's aircraft | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations"
8:
419:
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124:
195:(named for its red and white stripes) that protrude from the aircraft's front, a tail
685:
668:
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407:
28:
224:
190:
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431:
215:
583:"USGS Extreme Storm Team Receives Christmas Week Tour of NOAA Aircraft Facility"
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229:
474:
719:
672:
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in the aircraft's tail. They are also equipped with the ability to deploy
351:
209:
355:
181:
137:
263:
234:
199:, and other unique-looking instruments hanging from the wing.
278:
Lockheed WP-3D Orion in flight with NOAA's newer paint scheme
169:
661:
Broadbent, Mark (January 2019). "Riders of the storms".
552:"MacDill hurricane hunters to get $ 35 million overhaul"
385:
11.5 hours at high altitude; 9.5 hours at low altitude
148:(NOAA). The aircraft are operated by officers of the
472:
219:, and their logos feature the characters created by
176:
radar in the nose and on the lower fuselage, and an
682:
Jane's Civil and
Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95
426:
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
717:
248:, and they are scheduled to be retired by 2030.
751:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
269:
223:. NOAA's other hurricane hunting aircraft, the
146:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
86:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
711:Military Officer magazine article on the WP-3D
207:NOAA currently operates two WP-3Ds nicknamed
726:1970s United States special-purpose aircraft
645:
643:
168:The WP-3Ds are equipped with three weather
684:. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group.
33:NOAA Lockheed WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter
660:
634:
609:"NOAA Aircraft Acquisition Status Update"
476:Tour of NOAA WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter
373:250 kn (290 mph, 460 km/h)
667:. Vol. 96, no. 1. p. 93.
640:
443:converted to perform atmospheric testing
323:1,300.0 sq ft (120.77 m)
273:
679:
649:
628:
519:
718:
549:
358:, 4,500 shp (3,400 kW) each
202:
156:, the WP-3Ds are deployed for duty as
580:
305:116 ft 10 in (35.61 m)
545:
543:
541:
242:53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
473:NOAA Marine Aviation (2021-04-07).
317:34 ft 3 in (10.44 m)
311:99 ft 8 in (30.38 m)
13:
550:Altman, Howard (August 14, 2014).
522:"Flying into the eye of the storm"
441:National Research Council (Canada)
14:
767:
699:
538:
344:135,000 lb (61,235 kg)
257:Fleet Readiness Center Southeast
27:
746:Four-engined turboprop aircraft
397:3,000 ft/min (15 m/s)
338:73,000 lb (33,112 kg)
233:; they complement the fleet of
150:NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
601:
574:
513:
489:
466:
16:NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft
1:
736:Four-engined tractor aircraft
391:27,000 ft (8,200 m)
706:AOC description of the WP-3D
680:Michell, Simon, ed. (1994).
581:Krohn, Dennis (March 2008).
270:Specifications (WP-3D Orion)
7:
526:Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
454:List of aircraft of the AOC
401:
10:
772:
142:Aircraft Operations Center
237:aircraft operated by the
163:
154:Atlantic hurricane season
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53:
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26:
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290:General characteristics
239:United States Air Force
520:Newsday (2024-07-04).
279:
221:Jim Henson Productions
48:Weather reconnaissance
277:
197:Doppler weather radar
136:is a highly modified
485:– via YouTube.
285:Riders of the storms
134:Lockheed WP-3D Orion
414:Related development
342:Max takeoff weight:
203:Operational history
39:General information
756:Lockheed P-3 Orion
589:on August 28, 2017
420:Lockheed P-3 Orion
280:
253:United States Navy
125:Lockheed P-3 Orion
741:Low-wing aircraft
731:Lockheed aircraft
664:Air International
556:The Tampa Tribune
501:www.omao.noaa.gov
408:Hurricane Hunters
158:hurricane hunters
130:
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105:Introduction date
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585:. Archived from
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558:. Archived from
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389:Service ceiling:
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225:Gulfstream IV-SP
144:division of the
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562:on June 3, 2016
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432:Lockheed WC-130
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54:National origin
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5:
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700:External links
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635:Broadbent 2019
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395:Rate of climb:
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121:Developed from
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691:0-7106-1208-7
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448:Related lists
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371:Cruise speed:
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336:Empty weight:
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191:barber's pole
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57:United States
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681:
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650:Michell 1994
637:, p. 93
630:
619:. Retrieved
615:
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593:December 14,
591:. Retrieved
587:the original
576:
564:. Retrieved
560:the original
555:
529:. Retrieved
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504:. Retrieved
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480:. Retrieved
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328:Aspect ratio
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261:Jacksonville
250:
228:
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208:
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189:
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178:X-band radar
167:
140:used by the
133:
131:
113:First flight
92:Number built
82:Primary user
63:Manufacturer
616:Weather.gov
437:Convair 580
364:Performance
352:Allison T56
348:Powerplant:
227:, is named
108:August 1976
22:WP-3D Orion
720:Categories
621:2024-07-04
531:2024-07-14
506:2024-07-14
482:2024-07-14
383:Endurance:
356:turboprops
321:Wing area:
210:Miss Piggy
182:dropsondes
673:0306-5634
309:Wingspan:
283:Data from
188:It has a
138:P-3 Orion
402:See also
68:Lockheed
315:Height:
303:Length:
264:Florida
193:sampler
100:History
688:
671:
566:May 6,
377:Range:
246:C-130s
235:WC-130
216:Kermit
174:C band
170:radars
164:Design
77:Active
74:Status
612:(PDF)
460:Notes
332:7.5:1
297:Crew:
230:Gonzo
686:ISBN
669:ISSN
595:2010
568:2016
354:-14
350:4 ×
213:and
132:The
116:1975
44:Type
259:in
255:'s
722::
642:^
614:.
554:.
540:^
524:.
499:.
439:–
172:,
694:.
675:.
624:.
597:.
570:.
534:.
509:.
330::
95:2
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