I left work a bit early yesterday to check out NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter WP-3D Orion that was visiting RDU Airport. This is the aircraft that NOAA uses to fly right into the heart of hurricanes, measuring the storm and conducting experiments.
When I arrived at the general aviation terminal around 3:45 PM, the line to see the plane was stretched out to the sidewalk. A staff member explained that due to the approaching thunderstorm, tours of the plane had been halted. I waited for a bit on the sidewalk as lightning from the storm zapped ever closer to the airport and buildings. Eventually the staff ushered everyone inside, though the tours were still on hold.
Continue reading