Stormchasing..

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 12 May 2007, 19:59

Hi all,

took this classic Lockheed up round the Isle of Man today and followed a few thunderstorms around (using real weather!). Quite a bumpy flight which led for some challenging control. I know very little about the storm chaser flying labs.

I believe the real ones are C-130's? Could be wrong though. :think:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 12 May 2007, 20:30

Eddie

I don't know if it is still in use but they had an Orion in the States used for research including flying into hurricanes (not Hawker) and the like :k:

The RAF used to use a Herk W2..with a long probe

Garry

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 12 May 2007, 20:39

Ah. Cheers Garry. Was'nt too sure. The concept of flying into severe weather like that just strikes me as insane. But I guess they love it or they would'nt do it..

Post by **Garry Russell** » 12 May 2007, 20:44

I don't know exactly what the RAF Herk did but I watched a documentary on the Orion once.

Quite a bumpy ride the smooth as he flew into the eye.

All around was a circular wall of cloud

Then back into it for another bumpy ride.

I bet they were glad Lockheed fixed the early problem when wings failed on Electras

Garry

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 12 May 2007, 20:54

Garry Russell wrote:I don't know exactly what the RAF Herk did

Wow what a ugly duckling that was. Looking at it, perhaps they used it to hang their washing out.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 12 May 2007, 21:08

The relocation of the radar to a pod on top of the fuse did nothing for it's looks

I think it was XV208.....whatever it was a standard C1 until the boffin types got hold of it.

Garry

Post by **Garry Russell** » 12 May 2007, 21:22

Eddie

Orion still in use

http://www.aoc.noaa.gov/aircraft_lockheed.htm

Garry

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 12 May 2007, 21:27

Interesting link that, thanks Garry. I don't think I would fancy being one of the research crew on that beast. I'm bad enough during turbulence on charter flights. :huf:

airboatr · Post by **airboatr** » 12 May 2007, 22:34

and a very nice FS model to fly as well gents
for FS9 (exclusivly)and has a real nice VC too
Lockheed WP-3D "Hurricane hunter" by Hiroaki Kubota

wp3dvol6 is the file name
can't remember where I got it, nothing in the read me to give me a hint....

it was dispatched already this year for the hurricane season
three weeks before the "season" <June to November> starts
for TS Andrea (although subtropical)
we had high winds and some rain showers ............
hopefully Not a sign of how busy this season will be

Chris Trott · Post by **Chris Trott** » 12 May 2007, 22:48

FS_KBT built a WP-3D as part of their P-3 series they did a year or so ago. "Miss Piggy" and "Kermit" were both represented, including excellent renditions of the nose art that adorns both aircraft. Both WP-3Ds and a modified Gulfstream IV are used by the NOAA for hurricane hunting. The G-IV gives a high-altitude look (above the storm) while the WP-3Ds give a mid-to-low altitude (in the storm) look. The WC-130H and WC-130J (they're in the process of converting to all WC-130J) aircraft of the USAF Reserves are used to track the storms as they form and strengthen. The NOAA aircraft typically start flying missions once the storm is on track to threaten the United States and sometimes they won't fly until it is forecast for the storm to become a hurricane (leaving the AFRES birds to track the entire cycle of lesser storms), but that usually only occurs if there are multiple storms threatening land.