The Eyewall of Hurricane Ike

The eyewall of Hurricane Ike looms ominous as the WC-130J Hurricane Hunter aircraft heads toward the center of the storm. Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing collect data inside the storm and send it to the National Hurricane Center, improving accuracy by up to 30 percent.

Al Roker Flies Into Dean

Al Roker, weatherman for NBC's Today Show, flew with the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters into the eye of Hurricane Dean on August 19. Mr. Roker said the flight was not as turbulent as he expected and the eye of the storm (in background) was amazing. The Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron have been flying Hurricane Dean since August 16, sending life-saving data via satellite to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. The Hurricane Hunters are using a 'smurf' to help them this year. The Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, affectionately called 'smurf' measure the intensity the winds at the surface continuously as the WC-130J flies through the storm.

Hurricane Season Arrives

The Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" mark the start of the hurricane season on June 1 by keeping an eye on disturbances in the Pacific and Caribbean. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, the only operational hurricane reconnaissance squadron in the world, started early this year when they flew Subtropical Storm Andrea in early May. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes. This season, the state-of-the-art WC-130J will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, which continuously measures surface winds and rainfall rates occurring below the aircraft. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters increase the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center Forecast up to 30 percent. (Air Force Photo/ Tech. Sgt. James Pritchett)

Welcome Aboard, Sir

Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, exchanges greetings with Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, aerial reconnaissance weather officer for the "Hurricane Hunters". General Bradley recently toured the WC-130J as the Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron prepare for beginning of hurricane season, which started June 1. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters are the only operational weather reconnaissance squadron in the world and have already flown Subtropical Storm Andrea in early May. This season, the state-of-the-art WC-130J will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, which continuously measures surface winds and rainfall rates occurring below the aircraft. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters increase the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center Forecast up to 30 percent. (Air Force Photo/ Maj. Chad E. Gibson)

Up Close

The Hurricane Hunters answer the call to an early kickoff of this year's hurricane season, which arrived nearly a month early with the development of Subtropical Storm Andrea off the coast of Georgia. This year, the state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer which allows the Citizen Airman of the Hurricane Hunters to constantly measure surface winds directly below the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James Pritchett)

First Look

The Hurricane Hunters answer the call to an early kickoff of this year's hurricane season, which arrived nearly a month early with the development of Subtropical Storm Andrea off the coast of Georgia. This year, the state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer which allows the Citizen Airman of the Hurricane Hunters to constantly measure surface winds directly below the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James Pritchett)