ER-2 (NASA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

ER-2
Operator: NASA
Location: Patrick AFB, Florida (USA)
Timeframe: 1995-1999
Loadout: Atmospheric Research

Personal interest:
This aircraft represents a NASA ER-2 from the Dryden Flight Research Center that was used to conduct third field campaign Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX-3) operations out of Patrick AFB in August and September 1998. CAMEX-3 successfully studied Hurricanes Bonnie, Danielle, Earl and Georges. CAMEX-3 collected data for research in tropical cyclone development, tracking, intensification, and landfalling impacts. The ER-2 collected atmospheric data at very high altitude above hurricanes. I provided aviation weather briefings to the aircrews, but as a meteorologist, I was also greatly interested in their research mission. ER-2 landings were particularly eventful, as the aircraft was not very tolerant of crosswinds, and local thunderstorms caused a great deal of variance in wind direction and speed. Several times I was required to monitor winds in real-time, and wave off ER-2 pilots on approach when the crosswinds would suddenly go out of limits.