Hurricane Earl: Flying through the eye of the storm

NASA's DC-8 research aircraft flies through the eye of Hurricane on Earl on August 30, 2010 near St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The DC-8 passed through the eye six times as Earl intensified from a Category 2 to a Category 4 hurricane. A videographer from the National Suborbital Education and Research Center (NSERC) captured video of the eye during the flight which is part of NASA's Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) mission. Note the wing flex as the DC-8 passes from the eyewall into the eye.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hurricane
• earl
• Hurricane Earl
• NASA
• NSERC
• GRIP mission
• DC-8
• NASA DC-8
• research
• tropics
• Atlantic Ocean
• Atlantic Hurricane Season
• category 4
• category 2
• weather
• storm
• climate
• forecast
• warning
• hurricane hunters
• aviation
• airplanes
• wing
• clouds
• turbulence
• Douglas DC-8

[kkpx2]

This is really, truly amazing. I can't even believe to imagine how those people on the plane must have felt... quite scary I bet.

[NSERCTV]

@kkpx2 It's a bumpy ride to say the least! The researchers just go about their business monitoring their instruments to see what kind of data they are collecting. Such an incredible group of people.

[Coaljet]

Seeing the comment below, I have to take a completely opposite view and sincerely thank you, NSERCTV, for posting this. I am a DC-8 fan and love seeing this wing view with the engines. I have always dreamed seeing a T/O or landing video filmed from behind the wing, to see the DC-8's big flaps deployed from within the cabin. I tremendously enjoyed watching this. It's a DC-8 geek's dream come true. I would love to see more like this.

[NSERCTV]

@Coaljet Thank you for your kind comment. The flexing of the wing shows how turbulent it is in the eye wall. The DC-8 is an incredible aircraft indeed.

[maxhovid]

Not much informative, eh? Should be titled "view of CFM-56 engines hanging outside the window". Please consider making wide-angle footage of the actual hurricane cloud formations. Thank you.

[NSERCTV]

@maxhovid Wide angle lens attachment was not available on this flight, unfortunately. Would have made the video much better. Thank you for your comment.

[DaanRoes]

Such a great plane...

[ManuuTorres]

incredible...

[MegaWildside]

No airliner has ever flown to that storm

[joepatroni77]

Ive seen way more flex than that on a routine trans a

Atlantic airliner... sheesh. Boring!

[Andwrightrocks]

i suprised the wing isnt sucked off

[samhoe111]

haha I first though that u flew backwards lol

[melbournepure]

amazing...nice work..

[Shipocute]

What an awesome video! Wow! the wing of the airplane is like a giant piece of metal sheet flexing... Just so amazing that pilots flew into the monster to capture the weather data of the hurricane. So amazing! Thanks for sharing this magnificent video.

[jonnybee48]

Couldn't agree more, Ken, but you have to remember that service and airline pilots have to fly either through or round these weather cells on a daily basis - they have little choice. Wether you have to skirt a weather front to avoid it, or climb above it makes no difference - the choice is yours. If your wings (and you!!) are capable, then you can go for it, but if not, you have to "make other arrangements"!

[kenpalmer1965]

These were some brave souls indeed flying through the eye of a hurricane like that! What some people will do for research! Awesome photography in this video!