Hurricane Fausto

With Hurricane Fausto approaching the Hawaiian Islands, four US Air Force WC-130Js from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, and NOAA's G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo", have made their trips to Hawai‘i to gather storm information. KOA's Big Island Jet Center posted on their Instagram page that they are handling the "Hurricane Hunters". Usually the WC-130Js will position at JRF when deployed to Hawai‘i.

N49RF has been positioned at OGG for this storm gathering flights. Normally, "Gonzo" is handled by Castle & Cooke Aviation at HNL.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's G-IV SP, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is making its winter training flight sessions out of HNL. Flying as NOAA49, this G-IV SP, arrived from LAL, via SDL, today.

NOAA Selects The C-130J To Replace The WP-3Ds

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that they have awarded a contract to Lockheed-Martin for two C-130Js to replace their aging WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunters. NOAA is expected to take delivery of the C-130Js in 2030, and will have the options for more aircraft.

NOAA To Receive A Second G550

NOAA announced today that they will receive a second G550, along with the first that is on order, and will replace N49RF "Gonzo" in 2025. This second G550 will be delivered in 2028.

NOAA's N49RF Returns

NOAA's Gulfstream G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246) is back at HNL for testing and training. It arrived this afternoon from LGB.

NOAA's N49RF

NOAA's Gulfstream IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is making its winter season flight training at HNL. It's scheduled to be based here for a couple of weeks.

19 Dec 2023 UPDATE

NOAA49 departed for PSP this morning, then will continue onto SAV tomorrow.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Gulfstream G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is spending a few weeks at HNL for training. This G-IV arrived from LAL (via LGB) as NOAA49, this afternoon.

NOAA's N43RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is sending N43RF "Miss Piggy" (msn 5633) to HNL. This WP-3D Orion will be doing test flights out HNL for an unknown period of time.

Hurricane Tracking Aircraft

With Hurricane Lane making a close path near the Hawaiian Islands, NOAA has dispatched both their WP-3D, N42RF and Gulfstream IV, N49RF, along with two WC-130Js from the US Air Force to fly into the hurricane to take measurements.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather-hunting Gulfstream IV, N49RF, has been based out of HNL since 13 February, probably for the winter weather systems approaching the Hawaiian Islands.

02.24.14 Update
According to FlightAware, N49RF had been flying circuits around the islands, and is heading back to LGB.

NOAA's N49RF

NOAA's G-IV hurricane hunter, N49RF, is at HNL with Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio approaching the Hawaiian Islands.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Gulfstream G-IVSP, N49RF (msn 1246), arrived from OKO (Yokota AFB, Yokota, Japan) last Friday, February 25th. It's flying around the Hawaiian Islands today as NOAA49 conducting weather tests. It's seen above being prepped for departure to fly around the 50th State, for a 6-hour weather profiling flight.

In 2009, N49RF had a side-looking Doppler radar installed on the aft of the G-IV, and recently had a new nose installed as well.