Mission

     The WC-130 Hercules is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft used 
for weather reconnaissance by the Air Force Reserve.

Features

     The WC-130 is capable of staying aloft more than 12 hours during 
missions. It is equipped with two external 1,400-gallon (5,320-liter) 
fuel tanks, an internal 1,800-gallon (6,840-liter) fuel tank and up-
rated engines. Weather equipment aboard the aircraft includes an 
Omega dropsonde wind-finding system. 
     The dropsonde system receives meteorological data via 
telemetered signals from an expendable dropwindsonde, a 2-foot, 6-
inch-long cylinder dropped from the aircraft every 400 miles. A 
vertical atmospheric profile of pressure, temperature, humidity, wind 
speed and direction is received from the dropwindsonde as it 
descends to the ocean. From this information, the dropsonde system 
operator analyzes and encodes data for onward satellite transmission.
     The WC-130 is flown exclusively from Keesler Air Force Base, 
Miss., by Air Force Reserve organizations known as the Storm 
Trackers. Its hurricane reconnaissance area includes the Atlantic 
Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and central Pacific Ocean 
areas.

Background

     The WC-130 Hercules is a modified version of the   C-130 
transport configured with computerized weather instrumentation for 
penetration of hurricanes to obtain data on storm movements, 
dimensions and intensity. The WC-130B became operational in 1959, 
the E model in 1962, followed by the H model in 1964. Only the E 
and H models are currently in operation.
     From the flight deck, the aerial reconnaissance weather officer 
operates computerized weather reconnaissance equipment to measure 
outside free air temperature, humidity, dewpoint, altitude of the 
aircraft and barometric pressure at that altitude. The weather officer 
also evaluates other meteorological conditions, such as turbulence, 
icing, visibility, cloud types and amounts, and ocean surface winds.
     The WC-130 provides vital tropical cyclone forecasting 
information. It penetrates hurricanes at an altitude of 10,000 feet 
(3033.3 meters) to collect meteorological data in the vortex (eye) of 
the storm. The aircraft normally flies within a radius of about 100 
miles (160 kilometers) from the vortex to collect detailed data about 
the structure of the tropical cyclone. The information helps makes the 
accuracy of hurricane warnings possible. Collected data are relayed 
directly to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL., which tracks 
hurricanes and provides warning service in the Atlantic area.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Weather reconnaissance.
Contractor: Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
Power Plant: Four Allison turboprop engines: T-56-A-7   (E Model) 
or T-56-A-15 (H Model).
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).
Wingspan: 132 feet, 6 inches (40.15 meters).
Range: 4,000 miles (3,478 nautical miles).
Ceiling: 33,000 feet (10,000 meters).
Endurance: Can stay aloft 18 hours at 300-plus mph (480 kph).
Speed: 350-plus mph (Mach 0.46; 304 knots per hour).
Crew: Six - pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, aerial 
reconnaissance weather officer and dropsonde system operator.
Date Deployed: WC-130E, 1962; WC-130H, 1964.
Unit Cost: Approximately $13 million (1960 dollars).
Inventory: Active force, 0; ANG, 0; Reserve, six            WC-130Es 
and six WC-130Hs.

Point Of Contact: 
Air Force Reserve; Office of Public Affairs; Robins AFB, GA 31098-
5009; DSN 497-1750, (912) 327-1750.