Editing Lockheed WC-130 (section)

===WC-130B (1962–1973)===
Five new C-130Bs<ref group=n>The first group of B-models were AF serial numbers 62-3492 through -3496.</ref> factory-configured for air sampling were delivered to the [[55th Space Weather Squadron|55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron]] at [[McClellan Air Force Base]], California, in 1962. After operational testing and evaluation, three were distributed to the 54th, 56th, and 57th WRS and the 55th deployed one of its remaining two to [[Eielson Air Force Base]], Alaska. In 1965 all had [[dropsonde]] systems<ref group=n>The system then in use consisted of the AN/AMR-1 Radiosonde Receptor manufactured by Landers, Frary and Clark, and the Bendix AN/AMT-6 dropsonde.</ref> installed at the [[Warner Robins Air Force Base|Warner Robins Air Materiel Area]] (WRAMA) and were transferred to the 53rd WRS at [[Ramey Air Force Base]], Puerto Rico, for use in the Hurricane Hunter mission. The first of thousands of such missions for the just-designated WC-130 was flown on 27 August 1965 into the eye of [[Hurricane Betsy]], the most destructive hurricane in recorded history to that time.{{sfn|Fuller|1990|p=355}}

In the aftermath of [[Hurricane Camille]] in August 1969 and the simultaneous shutdown of the WB-47 program, funds were appropriated to fund Project ''Seek Cloud'', an upgrade of tropical storm reconnaissance capability by an increase in C-130 platforms and an upgrade in meteorological equipment. 12 additional C-130B transports<ref group=n>The second batch of veteran C-130Bs acquired were s/n's 58-0725, -0726, -0729, 0-731, -0733, -0734, -0740, -0741, -0742, -0747, -0752, and -0758.</ref>  were obtained from [[Pacific Air Forces]] and modified in 1970–1971 with the new equipment suite.<ref group=n>The ''Seek Cloud'' suite consisted of an AN/APN-42 Radar Altimeter, AN/AMQ-28 Rosemount Total Temperature System, and AN/AMQ-19 Dropsonde receiver and control panel previously mounted in retired [[Boeing B-47 Stratojet|WB-47]]s; an AN/AMQ-29 Dropsonde Data Recording System; a Hewlett-Packard 9100B Desktop Programmable Calculator; an AN/AMQ-34 Cambridge Optical Dewpoint Hygrometer; a Barnes Engineering PRT-5 Infrared Sea-Surface Temperature System; three strip chart recorders (for recording wind speed and direction data, ambient dew point, sea-surface temperature, pressure altitude and radar altitude); and a AN/AMQ-31 Dropsonde Dispenser and AN/AMT-13 Radiosonde. All but the dropsonde dispenser were installed with their controllers in a new console on the flight deck.</ref>  One was soon transferred to the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA)<ref group=n>58-0731 was re-numbered with civil registration N8037 and nicknamed ''NOAA's Ark''. It served as a hurricane research aircraft from 1970 to 1981.</ref> but the other 11 went into military service, three to the 54th to replace the WC-130As and the rest to the 53rd, which had transferred four of its five original B-models to other squadrons after receiving ''Seek Cloud'' retrofits. Efforts to develop forward-looking and side-looking weather radars were unsuccessful. The second batch of C-130Bs were in service only a few years before all were de-modified and turned over to the reserve forces.

The WC-130Bs were powered by four [[Allison T56|Allison T56-A-7A]] [[turboprop]] engines rated at {{convert|4,050|shp|kW}}, had a cruising speed of {{convert|350|knot|mph km/h}}, a radius of action of {{convert|1,200|miles|nmi km}} with a payload of {{convert|25,000|lb}}, and a service ceiling of {{convert|30,000|feet|m|0}}.{{sfn|Fuller|1990|p=355}}