WB-47 Stratojet

This was the only jet in the 53rd to fly the hurricane mission, certainly higher and faster than any aircraft in our inventory. It flew for 10 years, from 1963-73. However, fast is not necessarily better in hurricane work; just as you slow down to drive over a speed bump, aircraft are flown as slow as possible in turbulence. For that reason, the WB-47 could not penetrate the interior of a hurricane, but skirted the edges of the storm. The crew of three consisted of two pilots and a weather observer.

Wingspan 116 ft. Length 107 ft. Speed 600 mph (mach .74). Ceiling 45,000 ft.