Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Dr. David Rust, a meteorologist with the National Severe Storms Laboratory at the time provides a in-depth overview of the NSSL 1 mobile laboratory vehicle for studying severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning. This van was predominantly utilized by researchers from 1980 onward through the mid-1990's and was involved in numerous severe storm and tornado intercepts during that era of US government funded severe weather research.
By this point NSSL 1 had gained a new and improved color video camera for the roof, replacing one of the black and white Vidicon tube cameras that existed between 1980-early 1986. Expensive for the time and a major upgrade in tech.
Video courtesy and © National Severe Storms Laboratory, late Spring 1986.
Dr. David Rust, a meteorologist with the National Severe Storms Laboratory at the time provides a in-depth overview of the NSSL 1 mobile laboratory vehicle for studying severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning. This van was predominantly utilized by researchers from 1980 onward through the mid-1990's and was involved in numerous severe storm and tornado intercepts during that era of US government funded severe weather research.
By this point NSSL 1 had gained a new and improved color video camera for the roof, replacing one of the black and white Vidicon tube cameras that existed between 1980-early 1986. Expensive for the time and a major upgrade in tech.
Video courtesy and © National Severe Storms Laboratory, late Spring 1986.
![Raging Planet: Tornado [1997] The Discovery Channel](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wbgAj0F212Q/mqdefault.jpg "Raging Planet: Tornado [1997] The Discovery Channel
Raging Planet: Tornado is a 45 minute special that was produced by UK based Pioneer Productions and aired on The Discovery Channel in late 1997 and early 1998. It features many infamous tornado events and then ongoing research efforts from the early through mid 1990s and was one of the more popular tornado documentaries produced in the later part of the decade.
For references, the Pioneer Productions crew that was traveling and chasing with Jim Leonard and others, along with the mini research helicopter, are featured in this May 31, 1996 Kansas tornado chase day as documented by the late Jim Leonard: https://youtu.be/hjPSPAPPmjg
© 1997 Pioneer Productions, All Rights Reserved.")
