Hurricane hunters are specialized aircrews, primarily from the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and NOAA, who fly directly into tropical cyclones to collect vital weather data. The practice began in 1943 when a pilot flew into a Category 1 hurricane near Galveston, Texas, on a bet, and while satellites can spot storms, only these aircraft can measure the crucial interior barometric pressure and accurate wind speeds needed for forecasting. The USAFR squadron operates ten Lockheed WC-130J aircraft that penetrate the eye at low altitudes, while NOAA's Hunters, based in Lakeland, Florida, use heavily instrumented WP-3D Orion flying laboratories and a high-altitude G-IV jet to study storm structure and movement. In September 2024, NOAA awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for two new C-130J Super Hercules configured as hurricane hunters to replace the aging WP-3D Orions, with service entry planned for 2030. Beyond the U.S., the Hong Kong Government Flying Service also conducts these missions, and historical aircraft like the Lockheed U-2 have been used, highlighting a long legacy of daring aerial weather research.