Lockheed WP-3D Orion

WP-3D Orion
NOAA Lockheed WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter
General information
Type	Weather reconnaissance
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Status	Active
Primary user	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Number built	2
History
Introduction date	August 1976
First flight	1975
Developed from	Lockheed P-3 Orion

The Lockheed WP-3D Orion is a highly modified P-3 Orion used by the Aircraft Operations Center division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The aircraft are operated by aviation officers of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Only two of these aircraft exist, each incorporating numerous features for the role of collecting weather information. During the Atlantic hurricane season, the WP-3Ds are deployed for duty as hurricane hunters. The aircraft also supports research on other topics, such as Arctic ice coverage, air chemistry studies, and ocean water temperature and current analysis.