Hurricane Hunters goes vintage
53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) Hurricane Hunters started to repaint their WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft in a glossy gray paint scheme including the historic Weather tail marking.
The unit, part of the 403rd Wing and based at Keesler AFB (MS), operates a fleet of ten WC-130J weather reconnaissance aircraft.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Connors, 403rd MXS fabrication flight chief: “The glossy gray paint scheme held up much better to the weathering elements during hurricane season than our current tactical gray paint scheme does. And when it comes to maintenance and touch up painting, the glossy gray lasts longer.”
The 53rd WRS aircraft differentiates from ready-for-combat Hercules aircraft, since the missions are strictly for peacetime weather data collection. It is the only Department of Defence unit that provides surveillance of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the central Pacific Ocean for the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The unit operates the following WC-130J:
Photo by USAF Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek