We also decided to start calling it “Miss Piggy,” because the Muppet character is always so fastidious with her appearance.Īs I am a frustrated artist at heart, I drew up a logo using the Miss Piggy Muppet character. Neither of us was happy with the appearance of the aircraft and set out to change it over the next year. Around the maintenance operations department, the aircraft was referred to as the “pig.” At that time, a new Flight Engineer, Steve Kirkpatrick, was also assigned to the P-3. The former mechanic on the P-3 was a good mechanic, but was not into the cosmetic appearance of the aircraft. When I came on board with NOAA’s Office of Aircraft Operations (now called the Aircraft Operations Center) 14 years ago, I was assigned as crew chief of the WP-3D Orion, N43RF, Hurricane Hunter. Greg Bast, Production Controller and Flight Engineer at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center, Aircraft Maintenance Branch, gives the inside story on why the Muppets fly with NOAA. Those who have seen pictures of the aircraft or the aircraft itself may have noted that the noses on both WP-3D Orions and the G-IV jet sport either Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, or Gonzo. Click image for larger view.ĭuring hurricane season, NOAA’s hurricane research and surveillance aircraft-two WP-3D Orion turboprop airplanes and one Gulfstream-IV (G-IV) jet-are very visible and critical tools in NOAA’s forecasting arsenal. Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo grace the nose of several NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft.
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