Lockheed WC-130J Hurricane Hunter Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft Variant
The Lockheed WC-130J Hercules is a dedicated weather-reconnaissance variant of the C-130J, configured with palletized meteorological instrumentation for penetration of tropical disturbances, hurricanes, and winter storms. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters use its aerial reconnaissance weather officer, dropsonde, and microwave-radiometer systems to collect and relay storm structure, wind, pressure, temperature, and precipitation data to the National Hurricane Center.
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Identity
- Aliases
- WC-130JWC-130J HerculesWC-130J Hurricane HunterHurricane Hunter
- Family Name
- Lockheed WC-130J Hercules
- Full Name
- Lockheed WC-130J Hurricane Hunter Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft Variant
- Roles
- militaryreconnaissanceweatherutility
- Status
- active
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Crew Capacity
- 5
- Max Payload Mass Kg
- 15,875
- Max Speed Kph
- 671
- Max Takeoff Mass Kg
- 69,750
- Operating Modes
- land
- Range Km
- 2,963
- Service Ceiling M
- 8,615
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- stol
- Description
- The Lockheed WC-130J Hercules is a dedicated weather-reconnaissance variant of the C-130J, configured with palletized meteorological instrumentation for penetration of tropical disturbances, hurricanes, and winter storms. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters use its aerial reconnaissance weather officer, dropsonde, and microwave-radiometer systems to collect and relay storm structure, wind, pressure, temperature, and precipitation data to the National Hurricane Center.
- Dimensions
- Height M
- 11.9
- Length M
- 29.3
- Wingspan M
- 39.7
- Manufacturer
- Parent Vehicle Family
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Nested value
- Name
- WC-130J AE2100D3 installation
- Notes
- The 403rd Wing fact sheet specifies four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprops for the WC-130J.
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Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 10:57:54 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 15, 2026 at 10:57:54 UTC