NOAA has got a bunch of planes, including a G-IV, a couple P-3s, a twin otter or two and some smaller planes at MacDill AFB in Tampa...it's a fat gig and almost impossible to get hired. But they are at the mercy of far more fickle budgetary considerations than DoD flying gigs.

There is also a reserve Hurricane Hunter unit flying C-130J's (I think they're "J's") out of Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS.

 

ATP,

Have you ever tried Cloud 9 tours (http://www.cloud9tours.com/)? I was on the one last year and we saw 3 twisters in 5 days. It was one of the best vacations I've ever been on.

I'm going to see if I can go on a hurricane tour this year.

 

Just got back from a soccer tourney in Denver. On the way there Friday we were an hour ahead of an F3 or F4(haven't heard yet which) but we got into some ridiculous hail (golfball) and had to wait under an overpass. I had my camera and got some nice shots of a wall cloud but no tornado this time. There were two in our group forced off the highway (I-70) by the State Troopers who saw the tornado, they left about 45 minutes after we did. They say they were about 10 miles away from it and it was huge. Funny thing is is that we passed a group of storm chasers from Minnesota with all their gear, they had the nexrad going and you could see they were looking intently at their laptops (about 6 cars and a van). Bet they turned around and saw the tornado.

On the way back last night we dodged some serious sever weather but didn't rained on until we were north if ICT by about 20 miles (11:45 PM). As I type this we are getting ready to get crapped on by another round of severe weather, stay tuned.....

 

I was watching the telly tonight at work, and it looks like topeka and wichita got hammered. I thought that bna was going to get blown away there for a few minutes aswell...

 

It looks like we are in for it today. All the forecasters are focusing on some severe stuff here again. I have my camera and will shoot any tornadoes that come my way. Gonna be an interesting day......

It's already blowing over 35mph, but that's not unusual.

 

As of right now I am in a tornado warning for Wichita. There was a low shelf cloud that just passed our house, no rotation yet. The spotters saw rotation about 6 miles SW of me. Good thing my computer is in the basement.

Talk to ya'll later.

 

Why not just bid reserve and get paid to chase storms, it usually works for me.

 

Other than flying?

Maybe sitting in a bar and talking about flying?

 

Wow. You are one of those guys? I cant stand those guys.

 

I knew it would get a reaction out of someone. Thanks for the laugh.