Science Features

In photos: 'Tracking Hurricane Gustav from the Air'

By James Wray Aug 30, 2008, 5:52 GMT

Flying into the eye of Hurricane Gustav, the eye wall is photographed from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters from an altitude of ten thousand feet to go through the storm 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Flying into the eye of Hurricane Gustav, viewed from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters at an altitude of ten thousand feet , 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Flying straight into the eye of Hurricane Gustav, the eye wall is viewed from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters at an altitude of ten thousand feet , 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav crossing four times through the eye reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Flying in the eye of Hurricane Gustav, the size of the storm is growing as the Hurricane Hunters fly at an altitude of ten thousand feet , 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav crossing four times through the eye reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. Gustav was upgraded to category 1 hurricane at 4:05 EDT. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Major Jeff Regusa conducts the pre-flight briefing before boarding the C130J aircraft belonging to the The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve, sits on the tarmac at the United States Air Force Base in Homestead, Florida, 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. THE C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Captain Ellen Bundy tracks the current conditions of Hurricane Gustav on the C130 J air craft for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve, at the United States Air Force Base in Homestead, Florida, 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. THE C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Tracking Gustav the pilot checks his map showing the current eye (L,RED) of Hurricane Gustav, from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters at an altitude of ten thousand feet , 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav crossing four times through the eye reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Tracking Gustav the pilot checks his weather (L) and position map (R) showing the current eye (L,red) of Hurricane Gustav, from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters at an altitude of ten thousand feet , 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav crossing four times through the eye reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Three C130J aircraft belonging to the The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve, sits on the tarmac at the United States Air Force Base in Homestead, Florida, 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. THE C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Flying back to Homestead Air Force station, a sunset after making four passes through the eye of Hurricane Gustav with a lightning strike (L) lighting up the left side of the 29 August 2008. the Hurricane is located off the coat of Cuba and is moving West, North-West into the Gulf of Mexico. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav crossing four times through the eye reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. Gustav was upgraded to category 1 hurricane at 4:05 EDT. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Flying into the eye of Hurricane Gustav, photographed from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters from an altitude of ten thousand feet to go through the storm 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

The island of Antigua at an altitude of twenty-two thousand feet heading for Hurricane Gustav in a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters 29 August 2008. The southern tip of Florida and the island of Cuba is visible on his tracking screen. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. THE C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

The island of Cuba at an altitude of twenty thousand feet heading for Hurricane Gustav in a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters 29 August 2008. The southern tip of Florida and the island of Cuba is visible on his tracking screen. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. THE C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Flying back to Homestead Air Force station, a sunset viewed on the right side of Hurricane Gustav, 29 August 2008. the Hurricane is located off the coat of Cuba and is moving West, North-West into the Gulf of Mexico. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav crossing four times through the eye reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. Gustav was upgraded to category 1 hurricane at 4:05 EDT. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN

Tracking Gustav on the left screen the crew navigator, keeps an eye on the GPS coordinates and the position of the air craft on the right screen while heading into the eye of Hurricane Gustav, from the cockpit of a C130 J air craft Hurricane Hunters from an altitude of ten thousand feet , 29 August 2008. The 53rd. Weather Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes--since 1944. The ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and flying out of Homestead, Florida. The C130J will fly into Hurricane Gustav reporting vital weather facts back to the Hurricane Center located in Miami Florida. EPA/GARY I ROTHSTEIN