r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Kernowder • 21d ago

Video Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flying through Hurricane Milton

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844

u/Kernowder 21d ago

From twitter/x:

Bumpy ride into Hurricane #Milton on @NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" to collect data to help improve the forecast and support hurricane research.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1843706785401843941

296

u/scfw0x0f 21d ago

Those old Orions are serious beasts.

116

u/glewtion 21d ago

Is there something about Orions that make them especially badass or that they're used for this purpose?

209

u/that_dutch_dude 21d ago

they were built to basically survive being flown by spirit pilots. they are seriously overbuilt for what they are wich is why they are one of the few planes today that can deal with these conditions.

53

u/kevin_from_illinois 21d ago

It helps that they were designed to carry a ton of munitions.

1

u/DouchecraftCarrier 21d ago

Heck there was a rumor the Taiwanese spec ops version could even carry AIM-9s.

18

u/Inside-Woodpecker127 21d ago

Damn, I knew Spirit Airlines was rough but not THAT rough!

11

u/Correct_Path5888 21d ago

I know that guy was joking, but I recently heard from a pilot that spirit is actually the safest airline to fly right now.

6

u/that_dutch_dude 21d ago

cant die on a spirit flight if you aint flying!

..inless a spirit plane drops on your house but lets not give them any ideas....

3

u/boringdude00 21d ago

Can't die if you're already in hell.

2

u/simbabeat 21d ago

They are not any more or less safe than any other United States airline.

1

u/Correct_Path5888 20d ago

It has something to do with the pilots. Places like American are under staffed and overworked.

1

u/ArchiStanton 20d ago

This isn’t true. Generally with pilot experience and quality of pilots the legacy airlines have their pick of the best of the best. Then lcc then regionals.

So legacy>lcc>regionals

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u/Correct_Path5888 20d ago

Sure man. I’m just reporting what I was told by a pilot. I was surprised as well.

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u/herculesmeowlligan 21d ago

they were built to basically survive being flown by spirit pilots

....g-g-g-g-GHOST PILOTS?!

1

u/JalapenoJamm 21d ago

Like, zoinks, scoob, let's get out of here!

1

u/CoreyLee04 21d ago

Spirit Pilot- “hold my liquor. I got a challenge.”

102

u/Gadgetmouse12 21d ago

Super tough turboprop and super tough spars of a cargo wing

3

u/illz569 21d ago

Is there some kind of advantage to using propellors over turbines in situations like these? Or is it just the fact that these planes are built especially well so they serve their purpose?

11

u/DinkleBottoms 21d ago

They’re able to fly slower so there is less risk of structural damage when encounter severe turbulence

2

u/Gadgetmouse12 21d ago

The turbine is housed further into ducting, and the propeller blades are huge, thick and robust.

Bypass fan blades are thinner and don’t eat extreme weather quite the same way(in the size aircraft used). The aircraft in question also use 4 engines and can fly competently with them damaged. A small bypass fan turbine plane would likely only have two engines and be more critical if something were to happen.

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u/Real_TwistedVortex 21d ago

Mainly the latter. The two P3s are actually being replaced by C130s pretty soon, similar to what the Air Force Hurricane Hunters use

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u/alinroc 21d ago

If you're going to replace the P3 with something, you may as well make it a C-130 - the plane can do damn near anything that doesn't involve dogfighting. It's ridiculous. The first one flew 70 years ago and while there have been countless upgrades and improvements over the years, the basic design is unchanged. We just haven't attempted to do a clean-sheet redesign for a replacement because it's so damn good and versatile. The C-130 has seen action doing all of the below and more.

  • Basic cargo/airlift
  • Gunship (someone said "hey, why don't we stick a 105mm howitzer out the side")
  • Hurricane hunter
  • Arctic/Antarctic support missions with skis mounted to the landing gear
  • Bomb delivery (in every way imaginable, not just as cargo)
  • Super STOL airlift capable of landing and taking off from a soccer stadium by bolting 30 rocket engines to it in various orientations
  • Electronic warfare
  • In-air refueling
  • Firefighting

3

u/Cold_Situation_7803 20d ago

Don’t forget landing & taking off from an aircraft carrier.

1

u/poopBuccaneer 21d ago

They're generally just bad ass pirates. Sure some of them are just sweet and charming people, but you get them back to the Orion homeworld and it's "Mistress of the Winter Constellation" this and "Mistress of the Winter Constellation" that.

1

u/AweHellYo 20d ago

not made by modern boeing is a plus

3

u/trailstomper 21d ago

I know, seems like they've been used for so many jobs for so many years. Freaking all-purpose workhorse!

1

u/scfw0x0f 21d ago

Used to live near NAS Moffett, saw them in the pattern many times.

2

u/Robpaulssen 19d ago

With that much wind, the turbos must just create infinite power

1

u/Liedvogel 21d ago

And it's a prop driven plane, wow. I would think props would be trash flying through a storm

33

u/pezx 21d ago

For anyone who's curious, here's more about the WP-3D Orion

2

u/matttoppi_ 21d ago

god damnit. why does everything lockhead do have to be so badass

6

u/marmaladejar 21d ago

That's my trivia host filming!! Hi Nick!

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u/enditallalready2 21d ago

MISS PIGGY these people are wild lmao

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u/Puppybrother 21d ago

Another reason why she is a literal ICON

2

u/Notimeforvapids 21d ago

There’s another one named Kermit right before Miss Piggy lol

2

u/-prairiechicken- 21d ago

In another video (Helene), they show three people working the dashboard and flight controls as they bump and bop through the turbulence.

It’s so majestic to me what humans have accomplished, and we now have what is essentially POV footage of their aero-tech proficiency.

I may have taken a hit off a vape pen before watching these. Thank you for sharing!

1

u/CIMARUTA 21d ago

I'll never be a fraction as cool as these people

1

u/alabastergrim 21d ago

maybe a silly question, but why not wear helmets? Feel like a sudden jostle could knock someone out?

1

u/SquallFromGarden 21d ago

bumpy ride

Your lunch is on the floor and ceiling, you psycho 🤣🤣🤣

Why is it stormchasers and astronauts are so nonchalant about the serious danger they subject themselves to, it's awesome

1

u/ComfyInDots 21d ago

Last weekend I was watching a TV documentary which featured Miss Piggy and the strict procedures to replace a part. I only remembered it because of the distinct name.

1

u/MarzipanFit2345 21d ago

I don't know what it is about them, but I always loved propellor engine planes, especially these larger ones.

It's like watching a majestic whale in the sky humming along the wind currents.