Crew members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron, better known as the "hurricane hunters" said Rita is one of the most impressive storms they have ever seen after flying through it, according to a Local 6 News report.
The crew of six reservists flew a C-130 into Rita to measure temperature, pressure and wind of the system.
After punching through the eye wall of the storm Thursday, the crew said Rita should be taken seriously.
"It is probably one of the strongest storms in the short period of time I've seen and it's been a pretty good ride, I would say so," pilot Major Rob Light said after flying through the storm.
"The most impressive eye wall I have ever seen," hurricane navigator Major Mike Shannon said. "The radar presentation inbound is tremendous and the ride through the eye wall is totally one of the roughest I have ever been through." (cont'd)
I can't imagine how cool it must be to punch through the wall and be in that clear surrounded by the vortex walls which are miles tall.