Hurricane Hunters' Plane Barrels Through Dorian's Devastating Winds
September 2, 2019
A hurricane hunter's airplane gave researchers an up-close view of a terrifying storm. The reconnaissance plane, a Lockheed WP-3D Orion nicknamed "Kermit the Frog," is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Staffed with researchers and crew with nerves of steel, Kermit powered through Hurricane Dorian. The Category 5 hurricane had winds of 185 miles per hour, with gusts approaching 220 miles per hour.
