Getting hammered by ice and turbulence isn’t fun. I usually don’t see the NOAA guys in stronger hurricanes, so that’s probably a factor.
I don’t know. Those P-3’s are pretty stinkin’ sturdy, albeit the C-130 is definitely more robust without a doubt.
I’ve been in some pretty rough air, but never had the overhead compartments pop open and stuff go flying around. That groaning sound is rather unerving though. I flew once where the wingtips of the airliner was moving at least 8’. That was alarming. When the stewardess asked me what I was looking at, she said, oh that’s just the bird flapping its wings while we’re flying. If you notice it stops doing that, or just plain dissappears, let me know and I’ll inform the pilots of a potential problem.
A little while later the co-pilot came walking back and looking out the window as he walked down to the ailse. He stopped at my seat (wing/window), and peered out the window. After a few seconds he smiled, straightened up and said to me that we’re experencing some moderate turbulance. He said that we’re fine, but if it gets twice that bad, to let him know about it. He said even so we’d still be good to go, he’d probably put in for the aircraft to be serviced and checked for metal fatigue.
A guy I worked with was an ELINT officer on a P3 Orion for the USN. He mustered out with spinal compression disability. I asked him if it was a tough landing and he said no, it was in flight inclement weather that did him in. FYI: all those guys sit at their stations with 4 point racing type harnesses strapping them into the seat.