Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders   B-roll of WC-130 Hercules. (U.S. Air Force)
                
                
                View DVIDS Video
        


        WC-130 HerculesTech. Sgt. Zachary Zieman, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster and dropsonde operator, assists the aircrew with the engine startup prior to takeoff for a mission into Tropical Storm Chris July 8, 2018, to gather weather data for the National Hurricane Center for use in their forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        WC-130 HerculesThe Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” depart Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 31, 2017, to take part in the U.S. Navy's Gulf of Mexico Oceanography Unmanned Systems Operational Demonstration. The squadron collected weather data for the U.S. Navy May 30 to June 2, 2017, as part of the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Staff Sgt. Karon Evans washes the flight deck windows on a Hurricane Hunter WC-130J Hercules before a training mission leaving St. Croix, V.I. Sergeant Evans is a crew chief assigned to the 403rd Wing from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The training mission covered the Air Force Reserve Command's weather reconnaissance mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios)Staff Sgt. Karon Evans washes the flight deck windows on a Hurricane Hunter WC-130J Hercules before a training mission leaving St. Croix, V.I. Sergeant Evans is a crew chief assigned to the 403rd Wing from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The training mission covered the Air Force Reserve Command's weather reconnaissance mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        WC-130J Super HerculesA WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" is surrounded by fog April 12 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
 WC-130 Hercules**Mission**
The WC-130 Hercules is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft flown by the Air Force Reserve Command for weather reconnaissance missions. The aircraft penetrates tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms to obtain data on movement, size and intensity. The WC-130J is the weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.**Features**
The WC-130J is a C-130J transport configured with palletized weather instrumentation that collects weather data, and is capable of staying aloft almost 18 hours at an optimum cruise speed of more than 300 mph.
The WC-130 provides vital tropical cyclone forecasting information. It penetrates tropical cyclones and hurricanes at altitudes ranging from 500 to 10,000 feet (151.7 to 3,033.3 meters) above the ocean surface depending upon the intensity of the storm.
An average weather reconnaissance mission might last 11 hours and cover almost 3,500 miles while the crew collects and reports weather data. The WC-130J carries a minimal crew of five: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster.
The aircraft is equipped with two external 1,400 gallon (5,320-liter) fuel tanks and an internal 1,800 gallon (6,480 liter) fuel tank.WC-130J Super HerculesAircrew members from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” taxi a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to its parking spot on the runway at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, after a winter storm flight Jan. 12, 2018. In addition to their hurricane taskings, Hurricane Hunters fly winter storm missions to gather weather data used by forecasters in generating models for systems that could affect the East, West or Gulf Coast of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    WC-130J Super HerculesThe 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s WC-130J Super Hercules also known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” sits ready for the Hurricane Awareness Tour to kick off at Brunswick, Georgia, May 10, 2019. The Hurricane Hunters are not only allowed to fly into storms, but are tasked to collect atmospheric data from within the storms (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    The WC-130 Hercules is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft flown by the Air Force Reserve Command for weather reconnaissance missions. The WC-130J is the weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force illustration)The WC-130 Hercules is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft flown by the Air Force Reserve Command for weather reconnaissance missions. The WC-130J is the weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force illustration)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

From the front of the cargo compartment, the aerial reconnaissance weather officer operates the computerized weather reconnaissance equipment and acts as flight director in the storm environment. The weather officer also evaluates other meteorological conditions such as turbulence, icing, visibility, cloud types and amounts and ocean surface winds. The ARWO uses the equipment to determine the storm's center and analyze atmospheric conditions such as pressure, temperature, dew point and wind speed.
A critical piece of weather equipment on board the WC-130J is the dropsonde system. The GPS Dropsonde Windfinding System is a cylindrically-shaped instrument about 16 inches long and 3.5 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 2.5 pounds. The dropsonde is equipped with a high frequency radio and other sensing devices and is released from the aircraft around every 400 miles over water. As the instrument descends to the sea surface, it measures and relays to the aircraft a vertical atmospheric profile of the temperature, humidity and barometric pressure and wind data. The dropsonde is slowed and stabilized by a small parachute. The dropsonde system operator receives, analyzes and encodes the data for transmission by satellite.
In May 2007, the WC-130J were equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, which continuously measures the surface winds and rainfall rates below the aircraft.**Background**
The WC-130 is flown exclusively from Keesler AFB by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, an AFRC organization assigned to the 403rd Wing known as the Hurricane Hunters. The hurricane reconnaissance area includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and eastern and central Pacific Ocean areas.
The WC-130J Hercules is a modified version of the C-130 transport configured with computerized weather instrumentation for penetration of severe storms.
The WC-130B became operational in 1959, the E model in 1962, followed by the H model in 1964. Only the J model is currently in operation and replaced the H model.
The aircraft's most important function is to collect high-density, high-accuracy weather data from within the storm's environment. This includes penetration of the vortex, or hurricane eye, of the storm. The aircraft normally flies a radius of about 100 miles from the vortex to collect detailed data about the structure of the tropical cyclone
The information collected makes possible advance warning of hurricanes and increases the accuracy of hurricane predictions and warnings by as much as 30 percent. Collected data are relayed directly to the National Hurricane Center, in Miami, a Department of Commerce weather agency that tracks hurricanes and provides warning service in the Atlantic area.**General Characteristics
Primary Function:** Weather reconnaissance**Contractor:** Lockheed-Martin Corp.**Power Plant:** Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprops**Thrust:** More than 4,700 horsepower each engine**Wingspan:** 132 feet, 6 inches (39.7 meters)**Length:** 99 feet, 4 inches (30.10 meters)**Height:** 38 feet, 6 inches (11.67 meters)**Maximum Takeoff Weight:** 155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)**Speed:** 417 mph (Mach 0.59; 362 knots per hour) at 22,000 feet**Range:** 1,841 miles (1,600 nautical miles) with payload**Ceiling:** 28,000 feet (8,615 meters)**Armament:** none**Crew:** Five (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster/dropsonde system operator)**Date Deployed:** 1964**Unit Cost:** Approximately $13 million (1960 dollars)**Inventory:** Active force; 0; ANG, 0; Reserve, 10**(Current as of May 2014)**
 Related Links
        WC-130 Hercules DVIDS page
   MORE FACT SHEETS
        Aircraft
        AC-130J Ghostrider
                    
                    AC-130J Ghostrider
                
                AC-130W Stinger II
                    
                    AC-130W Stinger II
                
                C-32
                    
                    C-32
                
                CV22
                    
                    CV-22 Osprey
                
                C-40C
                    
                    C-40B/C
                
                A U.S. Air Force C-37 taxis after landing
                    
                    C-37A/B
                
                C-130 Hercules
                    
                    C-130 Hercules
        RSS
    
    Major Commands
        Air Force Special Operations Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Force Special Operations Command
                
                Air Force Global Strike Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Force Global Strike Command
                
                Air Combat Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Combat Command
                
                Air Force Materiel Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Force Materiel Command
                
                Air Education and Training Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Education and Training Command
                
                Air Mobility Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Mobility Command
        RSS
    
    Weapons
        The Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS), also referred to as the AN/GSQ-272 SENTINEL weapon system, is the Air Force’s primary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) collection, processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination (CPAD) system. 
(U.S. Air Force photo)
                    
                    Air Force Distributed Common Ground System
                
                LGM-30G Minuteman III
                    
                    LGM-30G Minuteman III
                
                Sniper Pod
                    
                    Sniper Pod
                
                LITENING ADVANCE TARGETING
                    
                    LITENING ADVANCE TARGETING
                
                Guardian Angel
                
                Massive Ordnance Penetrator
                
                The AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod contains synthetic aperture radar that provides detailed maps for surveillance, coordinate generation and bomb impact assessment purposes.  It will be operational on the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo)
                    
                    AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod
        RSS  Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil