I Was Today Years Old When I Found Out This Mind-Blowing Muppets Fact

How could something so dangerous be named after something so cute?

Central Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, and to help protect locals and tourists, meteorologists use hurricane planes to track storms and gather data. And while you can find The Muppets hanging around Disney World, you can also apparently find them up in the sky aiding these storm chasers!

According to a Fox Weather report, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association uses three aircraft referred to as “hurricane hunters” named after Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo! These planes fly toward hurricanes, collecting important data. But why are they named after these famous Muppets?

First, let’s pinpoint why these planes are special. “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy” are WP-3D (“P-3”) Orion aircraft that can reach an altitude of 10,000 feet, while “Gonzo” is a Gulfstream-IV (“G-IV”) that is more agile and can reach an altitude of up to 45,000 feet.

The aircraft are large and tough and can fly through the eyewall of a tropical cyclone, the most intense part of the storm. They maneuver through and around the storm, collecting data on the surrounding environment and the storm’s movement.

These tanky airplanes can survive the most intense part of a cyclone and bring back some super critical information.

Each plane is decorated after its respective Muppet, featuring a painted image below the pilot-seat window.

The naming took place in the early 1990s with the P-3 aircraft, when the plane’s mechanic took issue with aesthetic of the aircraft. Per Fox Weather, “The P-3 was called the ‘pig’ around the maintenance department due to its looks.” As such, it was nicknamed “Miss Piggy”, as “the Muppet character is always particular about her appearance.”

NOAA Director of Maintenance Greg Bast said the plane eventually became “one of the nicest looking aircraft” they had, and he even drew a logo featuring Miss Piggy on the aircraft.

Bast added that Muppets creator Jim Henson was all for the idea of creating a “Miss Piggy” logo for the organization, and it didn’t take long until the “Miss Piggy” title became official. Then-pilot CDR Ron Phillipsborn’s team reached out to Henson Productions, and the two sides created a new logo with World War II-era aircraft nose art.

Michael Frith, the Director of Muppet Productions, was aware of a second P-3 at NOAA and fittingly thought to add a Kermit design. It was only natural!

Both planes were unveiled in Miami, and then attention turned towards the G-IV, starting in 1996. Because the plane had a “non-standard nose radome, the Muppet chosen for the G-IV was the long-nosed Gonzo.”

Since they’ve debuted, the  Aircraft Operations Center has used these fun designs to “pique the interest of children of all ages, around the country and the world, in atmospheric research,” according to Bast. His team even hands out small replica logo stickers to children and adults who visit the facility!

Bast also told Fox Weather that “the nicknames for the aircraft have become such a big part of our tradition around the Aircraft Operations Center that the aircraft are seldom referred to by their registration numbers anymore.”

We think these Muppets references are such a cute touch! Have you seen them in person? Let us know and continue to follow us here at AllEars for more Disney fun facts!

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