Flying With Hurricane Hunters To Alex

From Bill: I'm not going to lie to you. I've flown on many different types of aircraft, including C-130's many times. I have actually wing-walked on the top of a bi-plane, and strapped in with the Blue Angels. I've jumped out of an airplane. All of those rides were immensely enjoyable and memorable. And short. However, none of them ever flew into a hurricane.

I will never, ever, forget riding with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron out of Keesler Air Force Base. They are better known of course as the 'Hurricane Hunters.' I went with them this week, June 30, Wednesday--and wow--they found one. Hurricane Alex, which turned into a week Category One storm, then as it approached landfall, strengthened to a Cat 2. I was on the plane as it flew through the eye of the storm seven times. Got some neat video of the eyewall and some interviews with crew as they go through what to them is a 'routine' mission. Personally, I can't imagine this type of routine, but these crews do it all the time.

My hat is off to this special breed who fly into these storms, collecting data, and providing more exact forecasts of these tropical storms. It is extraordinary, dangerous work, anything but routine.