A TR-2 from NASA did operate from Darwin in the mid 80's. It worked in conjunction with a AP-3 also from NASA (not the one in your photo KAnga). The TR2 would fly above the storms at 60 -70 thou and the AP3 through the bottom. the idea was to bounce LIDAR signals from each aircraft and map the inside of the TS. The TR2 was also doing some work with the tropical area TROPOPAUSE which is much higher than the mid zone TROPAUSE and gives much lower OAT up at that height. I am guessing but from memory they would get -55 deg C, which is much colder than the norm.
I remember watching these guys on the radar up around Croker Is and SMP, but they worked much of the coast during those years.
Yea I would not have liked the job in the P3, flying under the stoms. Most of those buggers just about touch the ground!!
At least you could get around Hector, because it only covered the island and rearly got far off shore.
richo