53rd Wing Weather returns to glossy paint scheme
What’s old is new again as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron WC-130J Super Hercules fleet is returning to the glossy paint scheme with the tail flash ‘weather’ they had prior to 2007.
Prior to 2007, the squadron’s aircraft all had glossy gray paint, which was used for decades on weather reconnaissance aircraft, primarily for its durability, longevity, and efficiency.
The NEQA aircrafts will save fuel and manpower costs as it weathers the elements better than the tactical gray paint and the tail flash of ‘weather’ better represents their mission because they are more than just the Hurricane Hunters. 403rd Operations Group Commander Lt. Col. Kevin Campanile said, “We have gone back to the old logo of ‘weather’ and that’s really just to showcase the fact that we have an all-year round weather mission here. So, we are looking at winter storms in the winter time. We are doing atmospheric river flights off of the West Coast during the winter and then of course we do hurricane season.”
A total of ten aircrafts will revert to the vintage paint scheme.
