Inside the Hurricane: A Pilot’s View of Terror and Data Collection

I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with the Hurricane Hunters and the types of planes they use, but I just saw a very interesting interview that I had to share with you.
From what I knew, they fly a few different aircraft—definitely a modified C-130, and I believe a G-IV—but I had no idea what the flight crew actually goes through when they enter a hurricane. And wow, it’s pretty intense from the interview I just watched! I’ll share the link in this blog, and I highly recommend watching it. And hey, if I ever get the chance to see one of their aircraft up close—or better yet, interview one of the flight crew—you’ll be the first to know.

“Nine hours of discomfort, two to three minutes of sheer terror.”

That’s how NOAA Hurricane Hunter Captain Nate Kahn described flying into hurricanes during a recent interview with Fox Weather correspondent Brandy Campbell. And honestly, that quote stuck with me.

Published May 6, 2025, the Fox Weather piece gives us a rare look inside the cockpit of one of NOAA’s WP-3D Orion aircraft—nicknamed “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy”—as they prepare for another intense Atlantic hurricane season.

A Front-Row Seat to Chaos

Kahn doesn’t sugarcoat it. As the aircraft slices into the eye of a storm, the intensity spikes.

“Flying into the storms is an exercise in, I’d call it, nine hours of mild discomfort interspersed with two to three minutes of sheer and utter terror,” he said.

Those few moments of chaos? That’s when the plane hits the heart of the storm—where wind speeds can exceed 200 mph. The aircraft is tossed around like a toy in a washing machine, and every crew member is locked in—focused, trained, and calm despite the turbulence.

Why Risk It? The Data Matters.

The reason they fly into the storm, again and again, is simple: data.
NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters deploy dropsondes (mini weather stations on parachutes) and collect real-time sensor readings from inside the storm. These are sent directly to the National Hurricane Center to sharpen forecast models. That data can make all the difference when it comes to issuing evacuation orders or anticipating a storm’s strength and path.

“When you’re in 200 mph winds, it takes a significant angle to keep the plane moving in the right direction,” Kahn explained. “Which is part of the magic.”

The People Behind the Science

It’s easy to forget there are human beings behind those forecasts we see on the news. These pilots, scientists, and flight crews put themselves at risk to help others prepare—and survive.

You can watch the full interview with Captain Nate Kahn below to see and hear what it’s like straight from the source:

Wow, right?
I wasn’t kidding—and I hope you enjoyed that interview as much as I did! It sure puts things into perspective, and I’m sure glad we have people like that who risk their lives so we can get the data needed to help inform everyone who might be in danger if a hurricane is heading toward landfall. Here’s to the Hurricane Hunters—true professionals flying into the unknown so we don’t have to.

Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies!