Wp-3d Orion Website Links For
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Information About

Wp-3d Orion




The Lockheed WP-3D Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion used by the Aircraft Operations Center division of the NOAA . Only two of these craft exist, each incorporating numerous features for the role of collecting weather information. During hurricane season, the WP-3Ds are deployed for duty as Hurricane Hunters .

The WP-3Ds are equipped with three weather radars, C Band radars in the nose and on the lower fuselage, and an X-band Radar in the aircraft's tail. They are also equipped with Dropsonde s, temperature sensors, and other meteorological equipment. The aircraft are not specially strengthened for flying into hurricanes, however their decks were reinforced to withstand the additional equipment load.

The two WP-3Ds are nicknamed Miss Piggy and Kermit , and their logos featuring the characters were created by Jim Henson Productions . NOAA's other hurricane hunting aircraft, the Gulfstream IV-SP , is named Gonzo .


SPECIFICATIONS (P-3 ORION)

  plane Or Copter plane
  jet Or Prop prop
  crew 11
  length Main 116 ft 10 in
  length Alt 356 m
  span Main 99 ft 8 in
  span Alt 304 m
  height Main 33 ft 85 in
  height Alt 103 m
  area Main 1300 ft&sup2
  area Alt 1208 m&sup2
  empty Weight Main 61,500 lb
  empty Weight Alt 27,900 kg
  loaded Weight Main lb
  loaded Weight Alt kg
  max Takeoff Weight Main 139,760 lb
  max Takeoff Weight Alt 63,400 kg
  engine (prop) Allison T56-A-14
  type Of Prop turboprop
  number Of Props 4
  power Main 4,600 shp
  power Alt 3,700 kW
  max Speed Main 466 mph
  max Speed Alt 745 km/h
  range Main 2,700 miles combat,
  range Alt 4,400 km /
  range Main 5,600 miles ferry
  range Alt 9,000 km
  ceiling Main 28,300 ft
  ceiling Alt 8,600 m
  climb Rate Main 3,140 ft/min
  climb Rate Alt 957 m/min
  loading Main 107 lb/ft&2
  loading Alt 530 kg/m&2
  power/mass Main 003 hp/lb
  power/mass Alt 006 kW/kg




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