Reconnaissance missions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide vital information, and for the first time, an all-female, three-pilot crew will be pitching in to provide data.
NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center tweeted a photo Thursday afternoon of Capt. Kristie Twining, Cmdr. Rebecca Waddington and Lt. Lindsey Norman.
LAKELAND, FL - #NOAA49 prepares for a Hurricane #Dorian reconnaissance mission with the first all female three-pilot flight crew, featuring Capt. Kristie Twining, Cmdr. Rebecca Waddington, and Lt. Lindsey Norman. Get the latest forecast at https://t.co/3phpgKvnMi.#FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/DMn1wOxBUA
— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 29, 2019
The crew was flying a Gulfstream IV aircraft, nicknamed "Gonzo," according to the NOAA. The aircraft travels between 40,000 and 45,000 feet above the storm to collect atmospheric data, which is used by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.
OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN - #NOAA49, our G-IV also known as “Gonzo”, flies at 40 to 45 thousand feet above Tropical Storm Dorian gathering important atmospheric data, feeding models used by NHC forecasters. Latest forecast at https://t.co/3phpgKMZaS (photo: Nick Underwood, NOAA) pic.twitter.com/9EYzLc99Wy
— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 26, 2019
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