The WHI hanger contains six different airborne platforms: The Lockheed WC-130, Lockheed WP-3D Orion, Boeing B-717, Airbus A-321, Gulfstream IV-SP and Cessna Citation X. Each aircraft is a custom design; these are modifications of available freeware FS2000 aircraft and panels our Fleet Division has modified (with permission from the original authors) to WHI specifications.

Each aircraft is equipped with a special feature, the WHI Blackbox, that appears as a small panel with two switches allowing you to capture position, altitude and winds aloft data. When installed, this "gauge" runs in the background and interacts with an add-on Marc Phillibert has developed for his FS_Meteo software. It provides a window – about the size and looks of the FS2000 GPS window – that can display the current conditions at the nearest site and flight level values on one screen and the upper-air conditions on another. Further information on installing and using the FS_Meteo Display add-on and the Blackbox data collection facility is available at WHI Blackbox Data Collection, or simply click on the "Blackbox" link above. It is recommended that you download the entire aircraft package once again to perform the Blackbox update. This will insure you have the latest information and set-up on all of the aircraft. We have made modifications since they were first published to the website. If you just want to add the Blackbox once you download the zip files, you will need to update the gauges and Panel folder from the new zips. Also check the Docs folder in the new zips for added documentation we have found on the various aircraft. Some of the documentation may refer to other versions of the aircraft, but still has value so it was included. Use the core documents specifically for the current version if in doubt.

Install the Blackbox Gauge Yourself

Because this complete upgrade of the WHI aircraft will take a bit of time, there is a way for you to install the Blackbox gauge yourself. If you are familiar with the freeware CfgEdit Panel Editor or the commercial Abacus Custom Panel Designer, then all you need to do is download the Blackbox.gau file here and install it into your panels. For those of you who would rather wait for the modified files below, just look for the "Blackbox Updated" note over the next several days.

Basic Installation

We've provided a link for you to download each aircraft in the WHI fleet. Unless noted otherwise, the installation procedure is as follows:

• Download the various parts of the aircraft download. We have broken up the files into smaller pieces for easier downloading. No single file should exceed 10 MB anymore.
• Unzip the downloaded zip files, for example there are four with the C-130, into a temporary folder on you hard drive. Make sure you have the "Use Folder Names" option selected in Win-Zip Extract. This will place all of the files into their appropriate folders leaving you with just an aircraft named folder, a gauges.zip file and a readme with these instructions.
• Unzip the gauge.zip files into your FS2000 Gauges folder. (Note that some default gauges are used (without modification) so it's safe to overwrite those).
• Move the aircraft named folder, for example "whi-wc-130", to the FS2000 Aircraft folder.
• Open the aircraft folder and look for the Docs sub-folder. You'll need to read the included 'readme' files for specific information, such as the engine start procedure, GPS operation, and so forth to use those functions. You should now be ready to use the aircraft.

WC-130 Hurricane Hunters Platform

For years, the WC-130 has been the choice for "Hurricane Hunters." Called the Hercules, the WC-130 has proven its strength over the years by making multiple penetrations into even Category 5 tropical cyclones. The WC-130 can stay aloft for up to 15 hours. It has an optimum cruise speed of 300 knots with each of the four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines generating more than 4,000 hp. It has a ceiling of 33,000 feet and a max speed of just over 350 knots. With the other science and flight crew personnel now replaced by high speed redundant computer systems and the proprietary Thomas Flight Control Software System (TFCSS), a three-man aircrew can deliver the aircraft to the directed area and make significant scientific studies with the aid of controllers on the ground. In fact, a pilot could do it along with one science officer/co-pilot if the need arose.

The WHI WC-130 aircraft download is over 15MB in size. To make downloading easier it has been broken into four separate Win-Zip files. You will need to download all four of these files to use the aircraft: Blackbox Updated

WC-130 Part 1
WC-130 Part 2
WC-130 Part 3
WC-130 Part 4

If you own the FS_Meteo Display add-on, this is separate from the standard FS_Meteo software package, and would like the WHI WC-130 panel configured to use the software product in a separate window, you can download the whi_wc-130_fsmdisplay_update.zip here.

---

Lockheed WP-3D Orion Weather Platform

The WP-3D Orion is the perfect supplement to the WC-130. It can participate in a wide variety of national and international meteorological, oceanographic and environmental research programs in addition to its widely known use in hurricane research and reconnaissance. These versatile turboprop aircraft are equipped with an unprecedented variety of scientific instrumentation, radars and recording systems for both in-situ and remote sensing measurements of the atmosphere, the earth and its environment. With their worldwide operating capability, they have participated in numerous research experiments from the Indian Ocean, Australia and the Solomon Islands to Ireland, the North Sea and the Alps. The WP-3D is powered by four Allison T-56-A-14 engines and can fly at almost any altitude. They have a range of 4,800 miles and a cruise speed of 350 knots. Yet, they can slow down and loiter at only 203 knots for those slow and low missions. The aircraft will be used for synoptic missions around the perimeter of the tropical cyclone. The addition of the Thomas Flight Control Software System (TFCSS) once again cuts down on crew size.

With the WP-3D Orion, it is the sound files which account for much of the bulk. They come to about 24MB in size. So here, we have a single zip with the aircraft and components, including a default sound assignment. If you want the beautiful add-on sounds, just download the four sound files and unzip them into the WP-3D|Sound file. Here is the full download set: Blackbox Updated

WP-3D
P-3 Sounds1
P-3 Sounds2
P-3 Sounds3
P-3 Sounds4

If you own the FS_Meteo Display add-on, this is separate from the standard FS_Meteo software package, and would like the WHI WP-3D Orion panel configured to use the software product in a separate window, you can download the whi_wp3-d_fsmdisplay_update.zip here.

---

Boeing 717 Weather Recon Platform

Since the beginning of airborne weather reconnaissance, turboprops have been the platform of choice. It was the belief that jet engines were unfit due to the nature of the environment where the aircraft must operate, primarily the tremendous rain showers often encountered in rain bands. Testing with jet aircraft showed a propensity for reduced thrust, flameouts and difficult restarts. In addition, researchers often wanted slower airspeeds to gather more information. However, with the advent of lightning fast computers, the only holdups were the engine issues. WHI specialists have been testing modifications to the two BMW/Rolls Royce BR715 engines and have reduced the impact of these issues with just minor modifications. While the modifications do reduce the engine thrust by about 4 percent, the aircraft range increases to about 2,100 miles. If the final testing is successful over the next year, other jet aircraft may be looked at in the future. Currently, the B-717 is limited to Gulf of Mexico tropical cyclones ranging from Category 1-3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale and can only be flown by WHI test pilots. It has been fitted with the TFCSS.

Download the Boeing 717-200 here. Again, be aware that there are special installation instructions for the sounds.

---

Airbus A321 Logistics Platform

During the negotiations with many of our client countries, almost all asked if we had any airlift capability to assist following devastating weather events. At that time, such a capacity was considered outside budgetary constraints and beyond the scope of the airline. However, as WHI signed on new client countries, there became a need to ferry our own personnel to various staging locations. When not on company business, the A-321s are available for charter and WHI has worked out arrangements with several disaster response groups to provide ferrying if needed. It has been fitted with the TFCSS, but must always carry a full crew.

Download the Airbus A321 here.

---

Gulfstream IV-SP High Altitude Platform

With the C-130s doing eye wall penetrations and mid-tropospheric data collection within the tropical cyclone and the WP-3Ds handling the synoptic data acquisition around the cyclone and adjoining areas, the only zone not covered is the upper-air environment of the cyclone. With a ceiling of 45,000 feet and a cruise speed of Mach 0.80, or 460 knots, the Gulfstream IV-SP is an ideal high-altitude platform. The two Rolls-Royce Mk 611-8 engines generate 13,850 pounds of thrust each on takeoff. The aircraft has a max speed of Mach 0.88, or about 500 knots, and a range at cruise of 4,220 nm. The aircraft is also used for high altitude work in winter storms and severe thunderstorm environments. It has been fitted with the TFCSS.

Download the Gulfstream V here. Again, be aware that there are special installation instructions for the sounds.

---

Cessna Citation X Administrative Platform

The Cessna Citation X business jet is assigned to management for their use to move between locations as needed. The Citation X also carries state-of-the-art experimental high-altitude research packages. This limits seating to four but allows for additional high-altitude capability. The Allison AE-3007C jet engines deliver a combined 12,884 pounds of thrust at takeoff. Maximum ceiling is 51,000 feet, over a mile more than the Gulfstream, and a max cruise speed of M0.92 or about 530 ktas at 37,000 feet. It was the original test bed for the TFCSS.

Download the Citation X here. Note that this plane uses the same sounds installation procedure as with the Gulfstream V.

---

Regulations for pilot certification in each aircraft type can be found in the Personnel section, in the FBO division.