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On September 22, 1987, NOAA's two WP-3D hurricane reconnaissance aircraft flew an eight hour mission out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, into Hurricane Emily. Although small, Emily packed some of the most violent turbulence and strongest updrafts and downdrafts and ever encountered in a hurricane. Flying at 10,000 and 18,000 feet respectively, the two NOAA planes found updrafts in excess of 50 mph (25 m/s) and downdrafts over 40 mph (20 m/s). The low aircraft encountered these strong vertical winds in a ring 5 miles across surrounding Emily's eye. Such widespread vertical motion had never before been observed in a hurricane. These powerful updrafts and downdrafts hurled the plane up and down up to 1,500 feet during eyewall penetrations, despite the pilot's efforts to keep the plane flying straight and level.