The “Hurricane Hunter” – NOAA Lockheed WP-3D

 
With a lineage dating back to the the 98-passenger Lockheed L-188 Electra that first flew in 1957, the WP-3D is one of two examples operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect weather information. These aircraft conduct meteorological, oceanographic and environmental research around the world, and are known for performing observations in and around hurricanes. In addition to utilizing the advanced radar equipment housed in the bulbous fairings, the WP-3D also has the capability of dropping expendable dropsondes – small GPS-equipped sensors that collect and transmit data as they fall through the atmosphere. Photo: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum