The analysis of instrumented aircraft data from four recent mature hurricanes reveals common mesoscale and convective-scale features. The structure and organization of the convection, precipitation, and wind flow are studied by combining the airborne observations, using basic instrumentation, with quantitative radar measurements. Three predominant precipitation features seen are 1) the eyewall, 2) a stratiform rain region adjacent to and outside the eyewall, and 3) rainbands that contain both convective and stratiform regions. The eyewall is so named because it surrounds the rain-free eye, but several additional features distinguish it from other convective bands in the hurricane. In particular the updraft, tangential wind maximum, and highest rainfall have preferred locations relative to each other, with the updraft being radially inward from the rain and wind maxima. The 10 dBZ radar reflectivity contour (indicative of the inner edge) slopes substantially outward with height, and there is evide... Abstract The analysis of instrumented aircraft data from four recent mature hurricanes reveals common mesoscale and convective-scale features. The structure and organization of the convection, precipitation, and wind flow are studied by combining the airborne observations, using basic instrumentation, with quantitative radar measurements. Three predominant precipitation features seen are 1) the eyewall, 2) a stratiform rain region adjacent to and outside the eyewall, and 3) rainbands that contain both convective and stratiform regions. The eyewall is so named because it surrounds the rain-free eye, but several additional features distinguish it from other convective bands in the hurricane. In particular the updraft, tangential wind maximum, and highest rainfall have preferred locations relative to each other, with the updraft being radially inward from the rain and wind maxima. The 10 dBZ radar reflectivity contour (indicative of the inner edge) slopes substantially outward with height, and there is evide...