NOAA enhances hurricane research with new Gulfstream jets

According to Liberty Jet, "The cabin measures 45.1 feet long by 7.3 feet wide by 6.1 feet tall, giving it a total cabin volume of 1513 cubic feet."

NOAA's Gulfstream IV plays a critical role in supporting the National Hurricane Center forecasts through high-altitude surveillance missions. As per NOAA, "The G-IV is a sophisticated twin-engine jet piloted by NOAA Corps officers and crewed by NOAA civilian engineers and meteorologists."

Equipped with GPS dropwindsonde instruments and tail Doppler radar (TDR), the aircraft gathers crucial data on pressure, temperature, humidity, wind components, and storm structure layers. This information aids in modeling hurricane patterns for improved forecasting.

Recent flights include journeys from Lakeland to Scottsdale and from Scottsdale to Honolulu earlier this month.

In an effort to modernize its fleet, NOAA ordered a new Gulfstream G550 in 2019 to replace the aging G-IV. The delivery is expected in mid-2025 with another G550 anticipated by 2028 following a $106 million contract option exercised last year.

Dr. Rick Spinrad stated that "These new state-of-the-art aircraft will greatly enhance NOAA's ability to gather data critical to hurricane research." Nancy Hann added that "The acquisition of these highly capable aircraft is a major step forward in the recapitalization of NOAA's aircraft fleet."