Lockheed WP-3D Orion

WP-3D Orion
NOAA Lockheed WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter
General information
Type	Weather reconnaissance
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Status	Active
Primary user	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Number built	2
History
Introduction date	August 1976
First flight	1975
Developed from	Lockheed P-3 Orion

The Lockheed WP-3D Orion is a highly modified P-3 Orion used by the Aircraft Operations Center division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The aircraft are operated by officers of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Only two of these aircraft exist, each incorporating numerous features for the role of collecting weather information. During the Atlantic hurricane season, the WP-3Ds are deployed for duty as hurricane hunters. The aircraft also support research on other topics, such as Arctic ice coverage, air chemistry studies, and ocean water temperature and current analysis. ^[4]

Design

The WP-3Ds are equipped with three weather radars, C band radar in the nose and on the lower fuselage, and an X-band radar in the aircraft's tail. They are also equipped with the ability to deploy dropsondes into storm systems, and have onboard temperature sensors, and other meteorological equipment. While the aircraft are not specially strengthened for flying into hurricanes, their decks were reinforced to withstand the additional equipment load.

It has a barber's pole sampler (named for its red and white stripes) that protrude from the aircraft's front, a tail Doppler weather radar, and other unique-looking instruments^{[ vague ][ clarification needed ]} hanging from the wing. ^[5]

Operational history

NOAA currently operates two WP-3Ds nicknamed Miss Piggy and Kermit , and their logos feature the characters created by Jim Henson Productions. NOAA's other hurricane hunting aircraft, the Gulfstream IV-SP, is named Gonzo ; they complement the fleet of WC-130 aircraft operated by the United States Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. As of 2014, the two Orions had each flown more than 10,000 hours and flown into more than 80 hurricanes. ^[4] In 2024, NOAA announced plans to replace these two aircraft with modified C-130Js, and they are scheduled to be retired by 2030. ^{[6] [7]}

Between 2015 and 2017, the aircraft received major overhauls, costing a total of $35 million. This work was performed by the United States Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Southeast in Jacksonville Florida. The work included new wings and engines and upgraded radars and avionics. NOAA anticipates that these changes will allow the aircraft to fly until between 2032 and 2037. ^[4]

Specifications (WP-3D Orion)

Lockheed WP-3D Orion in flight with NOAA's newer paint scheme

Data from Riders of the storms ^[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: Up to 22 (2 pilots, flight engineer, navigator, flight director, 2–3 engineering/electronics specialists, radio/avionics specialist and up to 12 scientists)
• Length: 116 ft 10 in (35.61 m)
• Wingspan: 99 ft 8 in (30.38 m)
• Height: 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m)
• Wing area: 1,300.0 sq ft (120.77 m²) ^[9]
• Aspect ratio: 7.5:1 ^[9]
• Empty weight: 73,000 lb (33,112 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 135,000 lb (61,235 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-14 turboprops, 4,500 shp (3,400 kW) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 250 kn (290 mph, 460 km/h)
• Range: 3,800 nmi (4,400 mi, 7,000 km) at high altitude; 2,500 nmi (2,900 mi; 4,600 km) at low altitude
• Endurance: 11.5 hours at high altitude; 9.5 hours at low altitude
• Service ceiling: 27,000 ft (8,200 m)
• Rate of climb: 3,000 ft/min (15 m/s)

Accidents and incidents

On September 15 1989, NOAA 42, a Hurricane Hunter aircraft, experienced an engine fire due to a sensor failure while flying through Hurricane Hugo. The crew managed to extinguish the fire and land safely back at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados. ^[10]

See also

• Hurricane Hunters

Related development

• Lockheed P-3 Orion

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Lockheed WC-130
• Convair 580 – National Research Council (Canada) converted to perform atmospheric testing

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the AOC

Notes

1. NOAA Marine Aviation (2021-04-07). Tour of NOAA WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter . Retrieved 2024-07-14– via YouTube.
2. "No off-season for science and NOAA's aircraft | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations". www.omao.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
3. Newsday (2024-07-04). "Flying into the eye of the storm". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
4. Altman, Howard (August 14, 2014). "MacDill hurricane hunters to get $35 million overhaul". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
5. Krohn, Dennis (March 2008). "USGS Extreme Storm Team Receives Christmas Week Tour of NOAA Aircraft Facility". Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
6. "NOAA Aircraft Acquisition Status Update" (PDF). Weather.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
7. Shannon, Jonathan (2024-09-27). "NOAA awards contract for next-generation hurricane hunter aircraft | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
8. Broadbent 2019, p. 93
9. Michell 1994, p. 334
10. "Weather Underground". www.wunderground.com. Retrieved 2025-10-18.

• Broadbent, Mark (January 2019). "Riders of the storms". Air International . Vol. 96, no. 1. p. 93. ISSN   0306-5634.
• Michell, Simon, ed. (1994). Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN   0-7106-1208-7.

External links

• AOC description of the WP-3D
• Military Officer magazine article on the WP-3D