No one in Florida – and most recently North Carolina – needs to be reminded of the destructive power of hurricanes.
Altering their path is impossible, but predicting their movement and intensity can make a life-or-death difference for large numbers of people. Giving such warning is among the purposes of a tight-knit group based right here in Polk County.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employs two primary aircraft in its hurricane hunter arsenal. Lockheed Martin’s P-3 Orion four-engine turboprop flies directly into storms, while the Gulfstream twin-engine G-IV jet flies over and around them. Each has its own mission, technique, equipment and risk profile.
One of the jet pilots for NOAA is Cmdr. Danielle Varwig, a 40-year-old mother of two, married to another pilot who flies for UPS. The Air Force veteran sits left seat on the Gulfstream IV, a souped-up version of its civilian business jet counterpart. Both types fly out of NOAA’s Aircraft Operation Center based at Lakeland Linder International Airport.