It’s no G700, but NASA’s C-20A is a Gulfstream III business jet unlike any other, designed to study extreme weather events. This military version of the aircraft is essentially a flying laboratory and was most recently used to fly over areas affected by Hurricane Milton.
After the event, C-20A was equipped with an Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) instrument to collect detailed data about the affected flood areas. This tool uses a technique called interferometry to detect subtle changes to Earth’s surface, or more specifically, the intersection of multiple wavelengths to make precise measurements. This detection system enables researchers to measure terrain changes or impacts before and after an extreme natural event.
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Photo credit: NASA/Steve Freeman
Our team focused specifically on inland river flooding near dense populations, collecting data that could help inform disaster response and preparation in the future. By all indications, this rapid response to support Hurricane Milton recovery efforts was a successful coordination of efforts by science and aircraft teams,” said Starr Ginn, C-20A aircraft project manager.
