A cool look at the U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters serving exclusively in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific regions for hurricane and tropical cyclone forecasting. They operate the WC-130J Super Hercules, specifically configured for weather reconnaissance missions by the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. As a high-wing, medium-range aircraft, it penetrates tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and winter storms at altitudes ranging from 500 to 10,000 feet above the ocean surface, collecting data that is relayed in real-time to the National Hurricane Center via satellite.















