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| When in August 1957 the US Navy needed an advanced ASW/maritime patrol aircraft, the urgency was highlighted by the fact that they were prepared to accept a development of an off-the-shelf civil aircraft to meet the requirement. Lockheed proposed a developed version of the L-188 Electra, gaining an initial research and development contract on 8 May 1958. The third Electra airframe was modified as an aerodynamic prototype for early evaluation by the US Navy, flying from Burbank in August 1958. This was followed by the Lockheed YP3V-1 operational prototype, late named Orion, which first flew on 25 November 1959. The first production P3V-1 was flown on 15 April 1961, with initial deliveries being made to US Navy Patrol Squadrons VP-8 and VP-44 on 13 August 1962, by which time the type had been redesignated the P-3. Retaining the basic airframe structure of the Electra, the new aircraft differed by having a fuselage shortened by 2.24m and modified to incorporate a large weapons bay together with new avionics an,d utility systems. Mines, depth-bombs, torpedoes or nuclear devices can be accommodated in the weapons bay, and there are 10 under-wing pylons for a variety of stores. The major changes in the 30 years since the Orion entered service have been in avionics equipment and capability, and more than 640 have been built to date, with the type continuing in production (now at Marietta, Georgia) until 1995/56 for South Korea, who ordered eight P-3C Update Ills in December 1990. Other Orions are in service in Australia, Iran, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain and in the USA with the Navy, the Customs Service, NASA and NOAA. Potential operators, probably of surplus USN aircraft, remain Thailand and Greece. Following the assembly in Japan of four P-3C aircraft from Lockheed-built components, over 100 of the type is being licence-built by Kawasaki for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. In addition, 21 examples of a derived version known as the CP-140/140A were delivered to the Canadian Forces.
| MODEL | P-3C "Orion" |
| CREW | 10 |
| ENGINE | 4 x Allison T56-A-14, 3661kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 64410 kg | 142000 lb |
| Empty weight | 27892 kg | 61492 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 30.38 m | 100 ft 8 in |
| Length | 35.61 m | 117 ft 10 in |
| Height | 10.27 m | 34 ft 8 in |
| Wing area | 120.77 m2 | 1299.96 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 761 km/h | 473 mph |
| Ceiling | 16460 m | 54000 ft |
| Range | 7700 km | 4785 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 9000kg of weapons |
| Ken Bacheller, e-mail, 15.10.2010 23:18 I crewed the "Orion" for 21 years as a Flight Engineer, 1980-2000. VP-16,24,62.
what a fantastic airplane. The highest I ever took her was FL310, as a /an Update 2.5. reply | | Bob Azbell, e-mail, 15.10.2010 21:10 I flew many hours in P3A /B /C & F's in VP-19 VP-31, VP-6 and VP-50 at NAS Barbers Point Hi. and NAS Moffett Field CA. It's a great airplane. reply | | Monte Clark, e-mail, 02.10.2010 07:18 The candlepower rating of the searchlight is approximately 70 million(uncased). It was bright...... reply | | Chuck Raybon AO2, e-mail, 01.10.2010 13:51 I was the inflight ordinanceman on crew 6 for VP-5 out of jacksonville,Florida I flew many missions out of Iceland, Sicily, and Bermuda. It was a great aircraft to fly on and to work on. I did this back in 1975-1980. Wish I could fly on one again just for the fun of it.I have a lot of good memories of flying on these aircraft. reply | |
| | Tommy Johns, e-mail, 27.09.2010 16:33 Great duty for blackshoe RM coming from DD. VP-10 Brunswick. Tracked Russian sub for 3 weeks out of Bermuda in 68. Good crews, great experience. Stood behind flight engineer demoing P3 during airshow in Bermuda. Love those short field landings. Could have done without post flights sliding out on engines to cover them up in January. reply | | Don C. East, e-mail, 20.09.2010 16:36 You did not include the VQ squadron's EP-3E or the VPU squadron's Ep-3. As an NFO, I was a Junior officer and C.O. of both V Q-2 and VPU-1 and got buckets of hours in the Orion. After flying for years in the EC-121M shuddering shithouse, the Orion was a Mercedes Benz! reply | | Chip Bulkeley, e-mail, 22.07.2010 18:12 Flew P-3A /B /C's as an FEC /FE from 1986-2000.
Does anyone know the candle power rating of the P-3A search light? It was gone by the time I started my training. reply | | Jepp, e-mail, 01.08.2010 17:46 The airframe was great but let's not forget the mission. Fifteen years of flying with VP60 as an NFO was one of the highlights of my life. Even after 20 years of being retired, if they asked me to come back and fly a ASW mission, I would be there in a heartbeat. Great friends, great times, great memories. reply | | al walker, e-mail, 03.08.2010 05:55 10years,3 sqdrns enjoyed every flt, well almost every flt,
hated mad comps. anybody go over 25000ft? great a /c, great
crews. reply | | Tj McCormick, e-mail, 17.05.2010 22:39 Any info on the best procedure to defuel this aircraft ? reply | | Steve S, e-mail, 26.04.2010 06:31 Flew P-3Bs with VP-40 as a Julie op and then SS-1 and SS-2 out of Moffett and points west from 1970-1973. I recall taking off for the journey home from Naha and not being able to get to 18,000 ft because of the load. Six motorcycles, a bunch of furniture and enough stereo equipment to put on an AC /DC concert might have had a bit to do with it! I still wonder what our gross was that day...140K? I know that we used ALL of the runway at Naha, then again at Midway. 154587 was our "crew" bird (QE-6) and she's still on duty out there with the NRL. VERY reliable, very durable and very uncomfortable in rough air. It's surprising how you can learn to sleep on the deck of a P-3 in stormy skys!! reply | | IRBY FANNING JR., e-mail, 26.03.2010 19:17 FLEW AS RADIO OPERATOR IN THE P-3 IN VP-22 FROM 1968 TO 1972
AND THEN AGAIN FROM 1978 TO 1981...MADE MANY WEST PAC DEPLOYMENTS AND DETACHMENTS...ALSO, FLEW THE VIP P-3 150511 IN SICILY FROM 1982 TO 1985...NICE AIRCRAFT...ENJOYED MY TIME IN NAVAL AVIATION!! reply | | Fran Haupt, e-mail, 24.03.2010 04:05 1963-64, ADR2, VP-31 Det Alphla, NAS Moffett Field, P3A /B gound school /inflight, flight enginneer instructor. 1964-68. Crewmember (A /C#150520) on frist nonstop flight 4577 NM, 14.5 Hrs, Nas Moffett Field to Atsugi Japan. Return flight Atsugi to Nas North Island 4950 NM /14.2 Hrs. F /E, VP-10 NAS Brunswick Maine. 2500 Hrs of F /E seat time. This aircraft was really great. 1968-1971 instructor NAMTD Pax River. Instructor pilots /flight engineers and maintenance personnel. Really enjoyed the aircraft and the personnel who I came in contact with. reply | | SCPO Cecil Ogilvie, e-mail, 01.09.2010 05:38 VP-50 from 1969 to 1974 flew in P3's as an anti-sub combine sensor operator from Moffet Field down the Alaska Chain Japan, PI and Viet Nam enjoyed the ride very much. reply | |
| | W Stokes, e-mail, 02.09.2010 03:10 VP-19 1964-68 NAS Moffett Field. Was ADJ started as mech on check-line. Flew with crew 2 then crew 1 as 2nd F /E out of Iwakuni 1966-67. Did a 17 hr Gulf of Tonkin late 67, out of Sangley PT. PI, thought we'd never get back on the ground. Great tour of duty for me with lots of fond memories. Awesome a /c. reply | | Larry Huddle, e-mail, 12.03.2010 22:01 VP-47 made the transition to the P-3A during the summer of 1965 prior to it's second 'Nam tour. I flew as a substitute radar operator after having had lower back surgery in July, 1965. It was a fine flying experience compared to the Martin Marlin. reply | | Jim Franklin, e-mail, 12.03.2010 05:03 flew radio in 152165 RD7 patron47. wonderful a /c reply | | Bud Smith, e-mail, 08.03.2010 20:22 Was crewchief on SP2H with VP-4 "Skinny Dragons"
Transitioned to P-3 and flew as F /E with both VP-4 out
of Barber's Point, HI. and the "BIG RED" VP-19 from
Moffett Field,CA. Most forgiving A /C I ever flew on as crewman. Bored holes in the sky all over the Pacific and numerous "westpac" tours flying out of Naha,Iwakuni,and
Cubi Point. The P-3 was not the most comfortable of birds in turbulent air,as evidenced by a low level flight through the Molakai Channel, but she always brought us home. Retired in Sept. 75 as SCPOC of VP-19 after 20 years of service in Naval Aviation. reply | | Bill Biggs, e-mail, 03.03.2010 22:47 Started Navy career 1958 in Lockheed EC121, VW-11 Argentia, NFLD. Went back to VW-11 1962 to 1965 and then went west with everyone else during Viet Nam to P3-B's in VP-40 NAS Moffett Field. After a FAETUPAC tour finished Navy career in VP-50 at Moffett. After retirement in 1977 went to work for Lockheed as a P-3 Tech Rep. until retired from Lockheed. Over 35 years and 8500 flight hours Lockheed aircraft with over 30 years total , including Lockheed techrep time, in P-3's. Nothing bad to say,enjoyed all of it, including all those boring Nam market time flight hours. reply | | Bill Gerow, e-mail, 05.09.2010 18:48 Great Aircraft, enjoyed several thousand hours Via VP 19, VP 31, VP 40 1963 thru 1978, instructed many good men from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand Flight Engineers all. Loved the Bird, the crew's and the pilots a better bunch of sailors will never be found!! reply |
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