Comments on: Hurricane Hunters

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:15:52 +0000

The odds are better that you can avoid the anti-aircraft. This job is like my Dad flying into the Polesti oil fields in the plexiglas nose of a B-24. No, thank you.

I really like the C-130, and it has gotten me out of some tense situations, but flying into the middle of maelstrom intentionally is not my idea of a good time.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:56:57 +0000

dude! it's a cool job! one you'd like so much, you'd do it for free. i got a kick out of the quote about flying through turbulence: it'll stay airborne as long as there's air flying over the wings. being a helpless passenger strapped into your seat, able to do no more than mutter magical incantations as the plane jumps sideways or drops the odd thousand feet or so is scary indeed, but i think i prefer it to the possibility of being shot down out of the sky.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:42:38 +0000

They draw standard military pay and allowances when on duty, which certainly doesn’t add up to what Tony Snow was making, and the highest ranking officer in a squadron is normally a lieutenant colonel.

By: cookie jill

cookie jill — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:29:18 +0000

I admire those hurricane hunters. Almost as much as those pilots dumping retardant on humungous wildfires.

Flying conditions dangerous and ever changing, you betcha. Pay, probably lousy compared to a desk jockey job at a Hedge Fund manager’s. Needed, definately.