NOAA's Hurricane Hunters use Lockheed and Gulfstream aircraft to obtain storm data

NOAA's Hurricane Hunters have been actively flying missions for Hurricane Milton, the powerful storm heading toward Florida's west coast.

The National Hurricane Center, which uses data from NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter flights, said in a public statement Tuesday that the storm will make landfall in west-central Florida on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday, it became a Category 5 storm again after briefly weakening.

The flights that NOAA's hurricane hunters conducted for Hurricane Milton are the latest examples of the courageous group taking to the skies to support critical hurricane forecast modeling and research through data collection.

According to the agency, the group uses three aircraft – two from Lockheed Martin and one from Gulfstream – for hurricane crossings, avoidances and crossings.

The shelves of some Florida stores are nearly empty as barrels roll from Milton toward the coast

NOAA's two Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft feature a “unique suite of scientific instruments, radars and recording systems for measurements of the atmosphere, Earth and its environment,” NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations said.

Lockheed WP-3D Orion Hurricane from a National Hurricane Center

According to the agency, these include Doppler radar systems in the lower fuselage and tail areas, which can provide an “MRI-like view” of a specific storm, as well as deployable GPS drop wind probes to measure properties such as pressure and wind speed.

The WP-3D Orion four-engine turboprop aircraft, which can fly up to 3,800 nautical miles and reach altitudes of up to 27,000 feet, are nicknamed “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy.”

The cockpit of a WP-3D Orion during a NOAA Hurricane Hunter flight through Hurricane Ian (Nick Underwood/NOAA)

According to a post from the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center on Tuesday

The NOAA Hurricane Hunters also operate a Gulfstream IV-SP jet called “Gonzo.”

When deployed, the aircraft typically flies around and above hurricanes, “collecting critical elevation data with GPS dropwindsondes and tail Doppler radar, allowing forecasters to map the steering currents that influence hurricane movements,” according to the Office of Marine and Aviation of NOAA Operations. It can fly up to 45,000 feet.

A look at the NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP (NOAA)

NOAA's Gulfstream IV-SP has been busy with Milton and has made several flights in recent days, FlightAware data shows.

The Air Force Reserve also has its own Hurricane Hunters, part of the 403rd Wing's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, supporting the NHC. They use 10 WC-130J Hercules aircraft, also from Lockheed Martin, to fly Hurricanes.

HURRICANE MILTON is driving gas shortages in Florida as residents flee the storm

Like the NOAA Hurricane Hunters, they also conducted missions to investigate Hurricane Milton.

NOAA plans to add new aircraft to its Hurricane Hunter fleet.

In late September, the agency said it had awarded Lockheed Martin a contract “covering the acquisition of two C-130J Hercules aircraft and NOAA-specific design efforts, with options for additional aircraft.”

According to NOAA, the two next-generation “hurricane fighter” aircraft will replace “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy” in 2030. They are expected to provide more space for scientific payloads as well as additional instruments and technology for more data collection capabilities for hurricanes and other research purposes.

NOAA announced its contract for the two C-130J Hercules in September. This is an artist's depiction. (NOAA)

Over the summer, NOAA plans to acquire its second “fully modified” Gulfstream G550, “specifically configured for hurricane forecasting and other initiatives,” under an existing contract with Gulfstream.

Hurricane Milton is preparing Florida homeowners and the insurance market for the impact

A G550 jet that NOAA previously received will replace the current Gulfstream IV-SP in 2025.

“The acquisition of these highly capable aircraft is a major step forward in recapitalizing NOAA’s fleet of aircraft that meteorologists, researchers and decision-makers rely on for life-saving information,” said NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Vice Admiral for Naval and Aviation Operations. Nancy Hann said about the two G550s.