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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 |
| Hank DeBerry AO1 USN (Ret), e-mail, 24.01.2010 21:24 Spent 18 1 /2 years flying on these birds and fell in love the first time I flew on one. As an aircrewman /instructor I logged over 5,000 hours in A /B /Bmod /SuperB /C /CI /CII /CIII and I can safely say that the girls all brought me back in one piece. Not to say there weren't some scary times but there were some great times also chasing the Soviets and others. Had the privelege of helping out in the Straights of Hormuz when it was needed and who can forget their first up close look at St Elmo's fire. Flew all over the world and wouldn't trade anything for the memories. reply | | Orion FE, e-mail, 22.01.2010 13:45 .........as far as "410 kias on the deck", not happening. It might have indicated that on the VNE needle, which is normal, unless you leave the static ports plugs in. The 473 MPH indicated in the specifications above, equates to 405 kts, which is VNE for the airframe. Besides, the max ground speed for the MLG tires is 174 kts. reply | | OrionFE, e-mail, 22.01.2010 13:36 Flew the all-mighty Orion as an FE for over 6,000 flight hours, in all 3 models (A /B /C) and a few flights in the EP version. She's was the mistress that almost never talked back. I had a love afiar with her for 26 years and would still take her anywhere in the world. Her endurance is amazing, if you know what you're doing (logged a 12.7 in an AIP version of the C model, with AFC-517 inc.) I don't know if I would agree with the ceiling on the "specifications" at the top of this page, as at 34,000 ft, she's just about at max differntial cabin pressure, and she gets real quiet! (Gotta watch them when they get quiet). The best aircraft in the world as far as I'm concerned! reply | | Barry Woodruff, e-mail, 20.01.2010 02:34 We had 2 of our new B models that we took to S.E. Asia that I can honestly say would indicate just over 410kts on the deck!
I never tried it in the 747-400, DC-10, or 727, but I have my doubts. reply | |
| | Chuck, e-mail, 17.01.2010 17:11 Was Radio Operator on P3 in Pax River, MD. Flew in P5M in Bermuda until squadron transitioned over to P3 and moved to Maryland. I remember coming back to Bermuda from patrol and we had very severe winds. Pilot got us down safely with severe crosswinds. reply | | Lewis Lefevre, e-mail, 13.01.2010 04:02 I am a retired P-3 Flight Engineer and flew over 7000 hours in the great P-3. Most of my hours were in the P-3C but I have a couple hundred in the P-3A. What an incredible Aircraft! reply | | Harry G. Sharp, e-mail, 11.01.2010 22:10 Pilot, VP9 1968-1971, VP91 1971-1976.
Loved the aircraft, but...
the 54,000 ft. ceiling is greatly exaggerated.
The stated 473 "miles per hour" max speed is approximately the equivalent of the NATOPS 405 "knot" max. reply | | Randy Hotton, e-mail, 09.01.2010 15:52 Awesome airplane, got orders to VP-45 out of flt training. Went through P-3 Rag at Pax River VP-31, coming out of S-F's at Corpus Christi. I remember my first take off, 210 Kts climbing 4,000' per minute, WOW! Kept one in the air 17 hours, which a lot of time flying on 2 engines. We did not even have a topped off fuel on departure. It one those "Can you stay out there a litle longer mission, we are having trouble with your relief" I think if we had topped off we could have done 20 hours. Still give tours in my last squadron's P-3B VP-93 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mt Clements Michigan. reply | | Marian Bruce, e-mail, 07.01.2010 23:50 Flew the P3A in VP28 1959 until squadron decommissioned then transfered to VP22 until Dec 1971. Became OINC of VP66 where we transitioned to the P3A from the SP2H. Became the OINC of NARDET Pax River where I continued to fly the P3 until 1977. All total about 3500 hours of pilot time in the A with a very little time in the B model. reply | | Dave Smith, e-mail, 11.12.2009 20:17 Great airplane!! I was a crewman on Crew 9 Alpha VP46 out of NAS Moffett Field. Flew all over SE Asia in this airplane and she never failed to get us home. Great times and even better memories. INT QRK reply | | Frode Bergflødt, e-mail, 01.02.2009 17:12 Worked as Crew-Chief on the B-model for 3 years in the Royal Norwegian Aiforce. Fantastic and reliable machinery, both to work on and to travel with. reply | | Mandy Bayles, e-mail, 09.11.2008 05:28 My dad was an AT in the VP-24 squadron based in Jacksonville in the 80's. I actually had the pleasure walking around on one of these when I was about 4 years old. I'll never forget that; wish I could take my daughter on a tour of one. Anyone remember "Hay" Bayles? reply | | AOC(AW) USN Ret. Doug Kirk, e-mail, 12.07.2008 04:55 got over 4,00 in p3a,b,c, instuctor duty in all 3. good old days. VP24,22,30 reply | | Mike Mazurczak, e-mail, 31.05.2008 16:10 Great airplane! Great commercial airline pilot trainer. I flew it for 19 years and 5,500 hours. Chanced the bad guys all over the world. Great liberty! Great flying! Incredibly reliable aircraft. reply | |
| | Jim Medley, e-mail, 27.05.2008 02:51 VP 49 1963-66 PAX Rv MD bored holes in the air all over the Atlantic and Caribbean. Very reliable aircraft even in the Bermuda triangle. reply | | bill, e-mail, 22.05.2008 15:25 I was a crewman and flew all over in the B-Mod; I had a few rides in the C's as well. When things went wrong, engines or weather this plane got you home. We lost one and our sister Sq lost one some survivors on ours tragically all lost on the island of Kauai HI.
Chased a lot of Russian and ROC subs had some great on station time. This baby can do a lot, lying mines, torpedoes, even was able to carry the old MK-101 Nuclear Depth Charge as I recall had a few of them at Barbers Point HI. 101's that is. reply | | George Bleyle, e-mail, 22.05.2008 02:20 An operational(?) ceiling of 54,000 ft for the P-3C is impossible! This is an obvious error. reply | | Jon Moore, e-mail, 30.04.2008 17:57 Crew is 12 for the C. Max speed is 405 as I remember, ceiling is probably 34K ft not 54kft. reply |
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