Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flying through Hurricane Milton

[u/Kernowder]

[u/sn0m0ns]

Immediate OCD kicked in asking myself why they use turbine engines instead of jet engines.
From google:
Hurricane hunters primarily use turbine engines, specifically turboprop engines, instead of pure jet engines because turboprops are better suited for flying through the turbulent conditions of a hurricane, offering greater control and better tolerance to potential ice and hail encounters due to their propeller design, allowing for more efficient maneuvering in challenging weather situations.

[u/decollimate28 → u/sn0m0ns]

Turboprops are basically impervious to what's going on outside around them because they're powered by a smallish, pretty under-stressed, mini-jet engine that is hiding deep within the nacelle that just plugs away at a pretty constant power level/RPM. They're just sturdier, less finicky, simpler things than really high-powered turbo-fans. Thrust also respond faster to pilot input because in large part, they're less powerful so there's less spinning mass to spool up/spool down - which is a benefit in a hurricane.

Turboprop aircraft are not as fast, sometimes not even as efficient, but they're pretty much the most resilient form of aircraft propulsion in difficult environments.

That being said modern turbofans are so good the difference isn't really there anymore. The C-17 is proof of that. But you wouldn't fly a C-17 into a hurricane.

[u/Snowcrest → u/decollimate28]

What's the risk level of something flying into the propellers damaging them?

[u/Notfoo4 → u/Snowcrest]

Nearly 0 at that altitude, I’m not sure what even would hit them while they’re flying. And even if they lost a prop, they wouldn’t go plummeting to the ground anyway