THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, May 20, 1995                 TAG: 9505200313
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

HURRICANE-TRACKERS PLAN VISIT THEY WILL DISPLAY ``FLYING CLASSROOM'' AT NORFOLK AIRPORT TUESDAY.

The people who track hurricanes in the Atlantic will swing through Hampton Roads Tuesday to show off one of their weapons.

Using their hurricane reconnaissance P3 aircraft as a ``flying classroom,'' scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hope the visit will emphasize the importance of preparing for hurricane season, starting June 1.

During the visit, a team of NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross representatives will meet with the public and local officials to discuss hurricane safety. Hampton Roads is the fifth stop on a 10-city tour by the aircraft.

The P3 will land at Norfolk International Airport at 4 p.m. and be open for public tours from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The aircraft will be parked on the maintenance apron across from Norfolk International's old terminal building. This area is off Miller Store Road adjacent to the Norfolk police department's K9 training area.

In addition to the aircraft, emergency response equipment will be on display.

The turbo-prop Lockheed aircraft is one of two operated by NOAA for hurricane tracking and research. It carries elaborate gear to help technicians measure and electronically dissect a hurricane so as to better predict its future and its threat. The planes are stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.

The P3s are just part of the nation's hurricane-hunting air fleet. The U.S. Air Force Reserve operates a dozen planes flown out of Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss.

Both types of aircraft transmit detailed measurements via satellite to the Hurricane Center in Miami.

In addition to the aircraft tour, a hurricane preparedness meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Dominion Hall Auditorium at the Lake Wright Resort and Convention Center, 6280 Northampton Blvd., Norfolk. by CNB