Waiting for pilots to start the engines, Tech. Sgt. Scott Blair, weather reconnaissance loadmaster, checks over the WC-130J Hurricane Hunter aircraft before departing for a mission into the eye of Hurricane Ike. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James B. Pritchett) Share

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. Share

Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, speaks at a press conference in Washington D.C. in late May about the Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve "Hurricane Hunters" and the new Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer. Affectionately known as a "smurf", this advance in technology will continuously measure the winds on the surface. "This year and next year, we are adding a very nice new piece of equipment to our aircraft that will help us more accurately determine the surface winds at all times," said Bradley Bradley said the data collected by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron increases the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center Forecast by up to 30 percent, which is sure to rise with the use of the "smurf." Share

Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, speaks at a press conference in Washington D.C. in late May about the Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve "Hurricane Hunters" and the new Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer. Affectionately known as a "smurf", this advance in technology will continuously measure the winds on the surface. "This year and next year, we are adding a very nice new piece of equipment to our aircraft that will help us more accurately determine the surface winds at all times," said Bradley Bradley said the data collected by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron increases the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center Forecast by up to 30 percent, which is sure to rise with the use of the "smurf." Share

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) Share

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) Share

Lt Col Jon Talbot, Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer for the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, explains his role in the Hurricane Hunter mission to Karen Burns and Leslie Fay during the National Security Forum Tour at Maxwell AFB Ala. Burn's husband Lt Col Kelly Burns is a student at Air War College. Leslie Fay, President of the Fairfield, California chamber of commerce, was a guest at the week long Secretary of the Air Force sponsored forum. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Weather Squadron of the Air Force Reserve 403rd Wing, flies all operational hurricane reconnaissance missions for nation. Hurricane season officially starts June 1. (Air Force Photo/ Lt Col Jerry Lobb) Share

Jene Young of WKRG-TV in Mobile, Ala. interviews Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer for the Hurricane Hunters during Media Day on May 8, 2007. Six media outlets from across the nation flew on the technologically advanced WC-130J to better understand the critical mission of the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the 403rd Wing. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters increase the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center forecast by 30 percent. This year, the Hurricane Hunters will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer which continuously measures the wind speed at the surface of the ocean and can measure rainfall rates in the storm. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Tabitha Spinks) Share

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) Share

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) Share

As the sun rises one-year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a WC-130J Hurricane Hunter flies over citizens of Gulfport, Miss. gathered in memory of those lost to the worst natural disaster to ever strike the United States. The Hurricane Hunters are assigned to Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron which provides data to the National Hurricane Center improving forecasts by as much as 30 percent. Share

During a training mission in January, Master Sgt. Tony Hlavac, a weather reconnaissance loadmaster, reflects on the past season. Share