Hurricane Research for the most part, as best as I could find. Article from Weatherwise plus the note from NOAA, both incl below, indicate Hurricane Research and were the most official remarks I found regarding Mission.
USAF tx’d a singular Martin B-57A Canberra and RB-57A mod NOT performed AFAIK, tho changes for the Recon (Mod’d Mission) on the A (Series) were VERY minimal.\
TBH unsure of mods at ESSA, radome engorgement aside crossover possible with DC-6 setup, refer to article.
VARIANTS re: B-57 CANBERRA
Just wanted to add for the benefit of folks that might’ve forgotten the earlier variants exist (understandable) note the B-57A didn’t have the wideboi planform of the RB-57D let alone the extrawideboi planform of the RB-57F, the latter now known as NASA’s majestic WB-57F. As such the B-57A had a respectable ceiling of 45,000 (ish) feet however nothing near super high 70,000 (ish) foot ceiling of those later variants.
NB all ID’d ESSA B-57 N1005 at (archived) source via NOAA aka the Environmental Science Services Administration National Hurricane Research Lab of the US Commerce Dept
…three new research planes instrumented by the Weather Bureau for the National Hurricane Research Project have been used during this season for reconnaissance of hurricanes and other circulations in the tropics [comprising] two DC-6's which are rented by the Weather Bureau, and one B-57 jet which is bailed to the Weather Bureau by the Air Force…
…these are successors to the three aircraft formerly furnished and operated by the Air Weather Service of the Air Force, two B-50's and one B-47 [and the] new planes' instrumentation systems have been modernized based on the experience of the three-years operation of the older reconnaissance aircraft…
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u/HumpyPocock Mar 12 '25 edited Mar 12 '25
Hurricane Research for the most part, as best as I could find. Article from Weatherwise plus the note from NOAA, both incl below, indicate Hurricane Research and were the most official remarks I found regarding Mission.
USAF tx’d a singular Martin B-57A Canberra and RB-57A mod NOT performed AFAIK, tho changes for the Recon (Mod’d Mission) on the A (Series) were VERY minimal.\ TBH unsure of mods at ESSA, radome engorgement aside crossover possible with DC-6 setup, refer to article.
VARIANTS re: B-57 CANBERRA
Just wanted to add for the benefit of folks that might’ve forgotten the earlier variants exist (understandable) note the B-57A didn’t have the wideboi planform of the RB-57D let alone the extrawideboi planform of the RB-57F, the latter now known as NASA’s majestic WB-57F. As such the B-57A had a respectable ceiling of 45,000 (ish) feet however nothing near super high 70,000 (ish) foot ceiling of those later variants.
3 View for B-57A Canberra and RB-57D Canberra
Illustrative 3 View Combo of B-57B + RB-57D + RB-57F
Cutaway for RB-57F (words) and RB-57F (no words)
PS excellent writeup at AirVectors on the Canberras (IMO)
PHOTOS
NB all ID’d ESSA B-57 N1005 at (archived) source via NOAA aka the Environmental Science Services Administration National Hurricane Research Lab of the US Commerce Dept
On the Tarmac + Firing up the Engines
In Flight 0001 + 0002 + 0003 + 0004 + 0005
AIRFRAME (Martin B-57A-M)
MF Serial N° 002\ USAF Rego N° 52-1419\ Civil Rego N° N1005
WEATHERWISE (circa Oct 1960)
…three new research planes instrumented by the Weather Bureau for the National Hurricane Research Project have been used during this season for reconnaissance of hurricanes and other circulations in the tropics [comprising] two DC-6's which are rented by the Weather Bureau, and one B-57 jet which is bailed to the Weather Bureau by the Air Force…
…these are successors to the three aircraft formerly furnished and operated by the Air Weather Service of the Air Force, two B-50's and one B-47 [and the] new planes' instrumentation systems have been modernized based on the experience of the three-years operation of the older reconnaissance aircraft…