NOAA Hurricane hunters fly through Irma

May 22, 2014 Visitors line up to tour the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's WP-3D Orion turboprop 'Hurricane Hunter' at New Orleans Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, Wednesday, May 21, 2014. The aircraft is used by scientists on research missions to study various elements of a hurricane, flying through the eye of the storm several times each flight. The plane is also visiting Corpus Christi, Texas, Houston, Tallahassee, Fla.; and Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert)

By Joe Ruble

MIAMI, Fla. — Hurricane Hunter aircraft from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are flying into Irma to check on its status and strength.

The first flight was posted to NOAA’s Facebook page.

[ Click here to see it. ]

The aircraft, a specially equipped C-130, was on display in Orlando before the start of this hurricane season.