Lockheed WC-130J Weatherbird Weather Reconnaissance Variant
The Lockheed WC-130J Weatherbird is the weather-reconnaissance C-130J variant operated by the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters. Its palletized meteorological instruments, dropsonde system, and stepped-frequency microwave radiometer collect high-density data inside tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and winter storms; the J model replaced earlier WC-130 variants and remains an active operational weather platform.
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Identity
- Aliases
- WC-130JWC-130J HerculesWeatherbirdHurricane Hunter
- Family Name
- Lockheed WC-130J Weatherbird
- Full Name
- Lockheed WC-130J Weatherbird Weather Reconnaissance Variant
- Roles
- militaryreconnaissanceweatherutility
- Status
- active
- Type
- aircraft
- Variant Name
- WC-130J Weatherbird
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Crew Capacity
- 5
- Cruise Speed
- …
- Endurance Hours
- 18
- Max Takeoff Mass
- …
- Operating Modes
- land
- Range
- …
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- stol
- Description
- The Lockheed WC-130J Weatherbird is the weather-reconnaissance C-130J variant operated by the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters. Its palletized meteorological instruments, dropsonde system, and stepped-frequency microwave radiometer collect high-density data inside tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and winter storms; the J model replaced earlier WC-130 variants and remains an active operational weather platform.
- Manufacturer
- Parent Vehicle Family
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 4
- Placement
- wing
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- airframe
- Variant Notes
- Exact WC-130J fit: four Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 turboprops.
- Name
- WC-130J AE2100D3 installation
- Notes
- The C-130J family powerplant is preserved as the exact canonical AE2100D3 variant; no raw engine text is stored.
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- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 07:13:28 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 07:13:28 UTC