I'm an Army reservist E-5 and would love to go on a Hurricane mission. Is it possible to do this?If so, how is it done?-JSF

 

You're a sick, sick man.

 

Good question, I was wondering that too.

 

NOAA or AFRC? NOAA flies P-3's out of Macdill and the AFRC Hurricane Hunters fly C-130's out of Keesler.

I actually stopped by the NOAA squadron at Macdill and hung out with the pilots for a couple hours. They gave me a tour of their P-3's, GIV, Twin Otters, and their facilities. They mentioned possibly giving me a ride (obviously just on a training sortie and not actually into a hurricane), but I was only in town for the weekend so we couldn't pull it off. I am an AD 2Lt in the Air Force going through UPT and had my chamber card so I don't know if that made a difference or not.

NOAA is definitely a good gig though. It's one of the best kept secrets in the military. The majority of their pilots are prior Navy/Air Force pilots who did an interservice transfer. You basically transfer maintaining your current rank and time in service and the pay/benefits are exactly the same because they are a uniformed service(same pay, flight pay, tricare, 20 yr retirement, etc). The only thing is you wear navy rank and they try to get you before you make O-4.

During the hurricane season they stay alert for hurricanes and when one pops up they fly down to the Barbados fly through the hurricane and then basically island hop back up to the states flying through the hurricane. Their deployments consist of flying around scientists whale watching in alaska and the arctic. To top it all off you are permanently stationed in Tampa, FL.

Good luck. Flying on an actual hurricane sortie would definitely be very cool.

 

I'll pass on the ride through a storm, something in a book about intentional flight into thunderstorms being prohibited stands out in my memory........

 

I think it would so awesome, and would make any turbulence that I will see in the future look like childs play compared to a hunting ride. I'll see if I can get ahold of someone, and what they have to say.

 

Does this look like fun?

 

Tell the Capt he was drinking too much coffee before hand flying the moe sheen <bg>

 

Someone needs either LASIK or another few hours between bottle and throttle

Cinch that harness up nice and tight, and make sure the pencils are velcroed down.

 

Call 228-377-1110 Keesler Base operator and ask for the 403d WG public affairs officer. Major Chad Gibson. He coordinates all of the guest flights. If that does not work call the base operator and ask for the 53 Weather Rec Sqn phone number.