THE TENSION: Photo Essay: Hurricane Hunters Fly Into Ike

A pilot's view of sunset through the heads-up display after flying into Hurricane Ike Sept. 10 over the Gulf of Mexico. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters of the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss, fly 24-hours-a-day, collecting data inside the heart of Hurricane Ike. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters improve the National Hurricane Center forecast by 30 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Chad E. Gibson.)

Lt. Col. Mark Carter views thunderstorms and sunset through the heads-up display of the WC-130J Hercules after collecting Hurricane Ike data Sept. 10 over the Gulf of Mexico. The flight lasted more than nine hours and helped improve the National Hurricane Center forecast by 30 percent. Colonel Carter is a pilot with the 403rd Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Chad E. Gibson.)

The eyewall of Hurricane Ike looms as the WC-130J Hurricane Hunter aircraft heads toward the center of the storm Sept. 10 over the Gulf of Mexico. Reserve Airmen of the 403rd Wing collect data inside the storm and send it to the National Hurricane Center, improving accuracy by up to 30 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Chad E. Gibson.)

Lt. Col. Mark Carter looks at the sunset after flying nine hours on a Hurricane Ike mission on board a WC-130J Hercules Sept. 10 over the Gulf of Mexico. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters of the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss, fly 24-hours-a-day, collecting data inside the heart of Hurricane Ike. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters improve the National Hurricane Center forecast by 30 percent. Colonel Carter is a pilot with the 403rd Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Chad E. Gibson.)