JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — When hurricanes form over open water, there’s only one way to truly know their strength: flying straight into them. That’s the mission of the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather ...

The Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, not NOAA, flew into the December 2025 atmospheric river that caused historic flooding in Western Washington. Earlier this week, we ...

The U.S. Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron had a rough ride this week in Hurricane Melissa, having to turn back early twice due to unusually strong turbulence. The early return ...

Have you ever wondered what it's like in the eye of a hurricane? It's another day on the job if you ask the aviation specialists commonly known as Hurricane Hunters. Hurricane Hunters fly turboprop ...

CC0 Usage Conditions ApplyClick for more information. Have you ever wondered what its like to fly into a hurricane? Join the USAF 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on Mission AF308 076A Florence to ...

A US Air Force weather reconnaissance flight was forced to return early after encountering severe turbulence while collecting data on Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm that later struck ...

The US Air Force’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew inside Hurricane Melissa to capture footage of the storm’s eye from within on Monday, October 27, as it brewed over the Caribbean Sea.

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