| 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]
- ^ NOAA Marine Aviation (2021-04-07). Tour of NOAA WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter. Retrieved 2024-07-14 – via YouTube.
- ^ "No off-season for science and NOAA's aircraft | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations". www.omao.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ Newsday (2024-07-04). "Flying into the eye of the storm". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ 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.