Mike Dunford is a graduate student in the Department of Zoology at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, where he studies evolution. He's also a contributer to The Pandas Thumb. As is the case with everyone else here, his opinions are his own, and do not necessarily represent those of any organization he is affiliated with.
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Category: Climate/Weather
Posted on: April 3, 2008 11:25 AM, by Mike Dunford
This one probably isn't the hardest quiz I've come up with, but give it a shot anyway. Here's the question: how is the specific airplane in this picture connected to atmospheric science research?
Let's try something new this week: email your answer to me at dunford@scienceblogs.com instead of posting it in the comments. I'll announce the names of everyone to get the right answer on Monday.
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Comments
Hurricanes?
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChim | April 3, 2008 2:58 PM
Isn't this an old Constellation refitted for hurricane tracking?
Posted by: Chiefley | April 3, 2008 10:28 PM
Hurricane Hunter
Posted by: Ferrous Patella | April 4, 2008 12:38 PM
It's a WC-130J Hercules. Definitely a Hurricane Hunter.
Posted by: Brent | April 4, 2008 8:22 PM
Brent, What gives you a clue that it's a "J"? I suspect you're right as I see the 53rd now flies the new version. It's been a while since I rode in one (1983) and all the dirty thirties at that time were H's. I wasn't in the the 53rd, I was cross-training at the time. I just happened to run into a friend and he got me on to a flight.
Chiefley, if you flew in a Connie, you're even older than me!
Posted by: Onkel Bob | April 4, 2008 8:39 PM
Also, J models are the only herk variant with 6-bladed props (at least in the US...) As does the one in the picture. There are a couple other very tiny clues visible in the picture.
Another quiz question.. how many C-130 prop variants are out there?
Posted by: Mac | April 5, 2008 7:09 PM
I was wondering about the props.
I remember the C-130A had the 3 blade prop. Although I worked on C-130E's and H's (4 prop) at Incirlik and McChord, I was the specialist for C-141's and C-5's because of my first assignment at Charleston.
Posted by: Onkel Bob | April 5, 2008 11:47 PM
The D-model also sported 3 bladed props
Posted by: Mac | April 6, 2008 2:40 PM
Does anyone know if it is possible to "hitch a ride" on one of the hurricane hunters as a regular citizen? How about if one wanted to capture some high-res, digital cinema footage using something like this baby. http://www.red.com/cameras
Posted by: Jeff Knapp | April 15, 2008 5:00 AM