The Lockheed P-3 Orion

[freaklemon]

This aircraft, with its unreliable flight directors and unsafe and crappy ASW-31 autopilot, was by far, the best transport category aircraft to hone one's skills as a pilot. I'll never forget shooting a raw, hand flown CAT III visibility (less than 1/8 SM) precision approach into KNXX in the late 90s. That's how precise our hand flying had gotten with dets at sites including Adak, Alaska and Keflavik, Iceland. There's no other training like it and the airlines sought us out.

[noidy26]

I remember as a youth in the early 80's my ole man use to take me on a stroll through

the hangers and up in the cockpit of these birds. Man I miss the days of smelling that

#2 oil. Life of a military brat. Rock on VP-45

[Gwedd]

As a former AW w/5000 hours in P-3's (P-3b & P-3cUII), I agree with the comments below that the P-8 is a waste of effort and treasure that our Navy can ill afford. The Navy should have had LockMart keep the P-3 line open and bought new builds with updated electronics and sensors.

If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it, and the P-3 isn't broke at all.

[Majikart]

I envy all you guys who flew in these awesome military aircraft, Lockheed P-3's are one of my all-time favorite militry aircraft, Go Navy!

[Dollashlong]

My father was a member of various P3 crews in his Navy career...VP4, VP8 and VP11.

Thanks for posting.

[LateNightCable]

I live across the highway from a US Naval Air Station, so I get to see these things circle low over my apartment nearly every day. And F-18's too, but the Orions are the best to watch because they come over low and slow!... Oh yeah, I like the B737, but screw the P-8 Poseidon!

[Queenman1]

I was a flight engineer in VP-26 stationed in Brunswick, Maine. These planes are awesome...I do not not think the P-8 will even come close to their performance! Certainly they will not have "time on station' the the P-3's could achieve. And what about the weapon load?? P-3's had a wide variety of weapons to take to the enemy. When I was first in, we had Bullpup missles...scared the hell out of the right seater when they went off! I saw the hell with the P-8...Orions rule!

[centurion180ad]

P8 is a WHITE ELEPHANT.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to replace a naval 4 engine turboprop with a wide 737-body airliner with 2 jet engines.

IMPOSSIBLE

[1220Bman]

Here in Jacksonville, FL, we still have an actively used Orion currently at NAS Jax.

[PfcMW]

My dad flew the Papa-3s for 20 years. God bless this aircraft for keeping him and his crew safe. Sad to see it go.

[pvp64]

Great Job! I retired from VP-64 in 2007, they have switched over to C-130 aircraft and have become VR-64. The Condor flys on!

[taaaydman]

On May 22, 2011 2 P-3 Orions were destroyed in a terrorist attack on a naval base in Karachi. The terrorists used Rocket Propelled Grenades to target the planes which were parked in a hanger.

[TheSohailkhanonline]

We will miss this plane in Pakistan ... :(

[Shawkins49]

Couldn't like this enough. Awesome video.

[scarface8999]

Granddad flew in these, VP-5 the Mad Foxes.

[Landotter1]

I thought I saw 574 in this vid.... Done much wing work on this plane....

[Landotter1]

I have heard rumors that folks hate the P8's already.... Many think that an assembly line for P3's should be rebuilt and production started again. Won't happen but that's the general opinion of people who know....

[keith558]

@flighsimer - Experience comes from GE, SNECMA and US Airways. Now have my own shop called Jet AirWerks.

[keith558]

Great Video - I cut my teeth on this A/C and engines - flew center seat and was a flight line mechanic with VP-9 (1975-1979). Now I work on the P-8 Poseidon engines (CFM56-7B). Poetic justice!

[flighsimer]

@keith558 at Boeing or with VX-1 or VX-20? My brother is in VX-1 working on the P-3's engine but he will soon being transitioning to the CFM's.

[jonyboy1131]

Nice video, I was in VP-17 in the late 80's, lots of memories in that video!!! Happy Hunting!!

[gawfer]

'79-'82, CFAO AIMD Powerplants, then attached to VP-91 '82-'85, Second Mech Aircrew.

Never thought I'd miss this plane...

[meoddball]

I flew from Adak Alaska to Barber's Point Hawaii on the P-3 while taking some leave. Very nice flight!

[stockcar269s]

As i write this there is an RNZAF P-3 heading from New Zealand to Antarctica or back to Rescue an American Serviceman from McMurdo, No American Aircraft are currently at the Antarctic Base in Christchurch so NZ is sending down a P-3, they would usually send a C-130 so is unusual to send a P-3, maybe speed is of the essence in this rescue as went i was in the forces it took about 9 hrs from ChCh to McMurdo in a C-130 + Antarctica will still be in darkness at this time of year

[Lov3yFergie]

R.I.P. NAS Brunswick Maine!!! Greatest navy duty station with the best platform!

[jjaagg5050]

My son is an AW with VP-45 and can't wait for the P-8 to be ready. So for you guys testing them, hurry up! LOL! GO NAVY!

[flighsimer]

@jjaagg5050 the pelicans :) when did he go there? that was my brother's squad until he went to dallas and then pax river. So last time he would have actually been there was 06.

He is now one of the guys testing the p-8 though, their squad hasnt recieved theirs yet, but will be recieving it soon. Their sister squad has their p-8's in his squads hangars right now. I got to see it and it is sweet looking!

[jjaagg5050]

@flighsimer He's there now. Let's see, he left VP-30 in December, got married, went back to Jax the day after wedding. Came home on leave for Christmas, went back to Jax. then reported to VP-45 I would say right after the new year. The time has kind of run together, and things were happening very quickly. We are talking 12/09. So just last December. So far things are going well for him. He says he wants to make it a career and be an instructor some day. Thanks very much!

[chrisg21225]

@flighsimer I thought the pelicans were VP-44 cause my dad was attached to them in 84-88 and they were called the Pelicans. They were based in Brunswick, Me. Does my memory deceive me?

[centurion180ad]

@jjaagg5050 Have you seen what the hollow brass hats want to replace P3 with?

They have this hunk-of-junk called P8, a huge widow maker and war loser waiting for a time & place to happen. It is a wide 737-body airliner with 2 jet engines, and it is a WHITE ELEPHANT! It is //impossible// to replace a naval variant 4 engine turboprop, with this travesty.

[83rkt]

@centurion180ad

Have you flown on the P-8 to make this assessment? The P-8's will run circles around the P-3. My smart phone has more processing capabilities than a P-3. I wasn't excited about the P-8 at first either, but it so much better, especially since there is no cranky FE's to put up with!

[centurion180ad]

@83rkt I've been on P3s.

A 737 is fine, for hauling a very narrow loadout profile of people or cargo at a minimum of cost at an exactly optimal altitude & speed for fuel conservation. This is a God awful and insane design for placing into a combat role. Doing this conversion is a death sentence, and a war looser.

If you want more processors on P3, tear out the old electronic systems and put in new ones. If you want better engines & busses, buil a new variant.

[coo1aid]

The P-8 is an amazing plane we have 2 of them at our base and getting a third shortly... The P-8 is absolutly huge!

[flighsimer]

@coo1aid yup, my brother is in the pioneers who will get a/c #3 and 4... hopefully they will get it before the airshow.

[coo1aid]

@flighsimer What base does he work in?

[flighsimer]

@coo1aid pax river... the only base the p-8's are at...

[coo1aid]

@flighsimer well you never know. could of been another somewhere in the states.

[flighsimer]

@coo1aid only base that will get them stationed there is pax until they are accepted by the navy and production fully starts.

[P3cNavyBrat]

@coo1aid Yet to be seen if the p8 will fit the need. The P-3 still has at least 10 years of service in it, with the wing retros. How long can a 737 stay 200 feet off the deck in -20degF with 40 foot swells in the Bering Sea? Oh yeah, about an hour before the pilot is flicking the fuel gauges. The flexibility of the P3 is incredible. Just look at what they're using them for (Middle East, Somali Pirates, Firefighting, Hurricanes, Drug Trafficking, etc) and they're still monitoring the subs.

[coo1aid]

@P3cNavyBrat Taking it that you're a P-3 pilot or ex P-3 pilot . Either way P-8 with time is probably going to be improved with the technlogy we have today. I'm not bad mouthing the P-3, don't get me wrong it's an amazing aircraft as well. But like with every aircraft it has its limits in performance. From my understandings/knowledgement the P-8 can hold more electrical systems than the P-3, and also more crew memebers. But only so much information has been released about the P-8.

[P3SuperBee]

Have never seen so many comments, from so many people with no clue, that it is ridiculous.

[t1mmytee]

THANKS FOR POSTING!!!! I worked on P-3s for almost 4 years in the early 1970s, and the Rolling Stones were the kings of Rock 'n' Roll then, too! This tune reminds me SO MUCH of my Navy days in Key West!

[exoticspinner07]

i work on this ol girl

[PingCrack]

Nice Video! Thx for Upload!

[jon91385]

the good thing is lockheed is building new p-3 wings for our navy and several other countries

[vroomba03]

1:36 is jacksonville!! There are so many p-3s here at NAS jacksonville.

[petermike19]

Thanks for the awesome video. I flew on P3cs in the mid 70s (VP 24) as a sonics operator. Really an adventure for a young man and your video brought back some great memories for a not so young anymore man. It's a shame the P3 is ending it's life span but what a great plane. We flew through some horrible weather conditions and it always brought us home safe and sound. I'll be sorry to see it go. But I will always have fond memories of it.

[xpwex03]

You could have left the bone yard pictures out I almost cried..

[zeppsabbathozzy]

im a RAAF pilot and i fly the mighty Orion

[TheSarahpeyton]

im going to miss the p-3 grew up with that plane. now im a c130 FE

[koopi5]

nice video and great plane

[31specialops]

i could not live with out the p 3

[snooppupc130jrketmas]

u cud not exist without the p-8

[1bearcatf8f]

Me and my dad saw a P-3 flyover when we were coming out of a store

[1bearcatf8f]

id rather see p-3s become water bombers instead of the ones in the bone yards

[spgray65]

IFT (AT2) in VP-48 & VP-91. Dets to Cubi Point, Adak, Kadena JP.

I miss flying in the "bus"!

Semper Per Diem!

[jray4888]

Great vid...NFO VP-19, VP-40, VP-91, VP-65.

The pig lives!!!

[modeerF16]

The Orion was first designated as P3V-1. In 1962, an Orion was flown to NAS North Island and parked on the VP-46 flight line.

I went aboard...WOW, what a differnce between that and our P5M-1S Marlin seaplanes. VP-46 was the first patrol squadron to transition to the Orion on the West coast. The squadron moved to NAS Moffett Field circa 1963 and is now based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. VP-46 is the oldest patrol squadron in the Navy..."The oldest and the best".

[TheSarahpeyton]

my stepmom was in vp-46!

[den220]

Hoo rah VP-92

[dmayer1975]

Bad ass. My girlfriend is a P-3 pilot with VP 9 in Hawaii. I'm impressed every time I see these planes flying. Thanks!

[carlasecret14]

she's so lucky !

[claycas92]

my dad was in vp-22 barber VP ..hawaii great vid 5/5 stars

[tyrone9009]

Nothing beats the EP-3E version of this bird. And IFT's nightmare.

[rwheele]

Pretty cool. AT2-IFT served in VP-62, VP-91, RATCEN

Semper Per Diem

[whasagoodun]

Good job. Great song, too. Glad to see you got it back!

Former VP-46 at Moffett Field 78-82. Still miss those days. Plenty of times that plane got us home when others wouldn't have. Thanks again, good tribute.

[MacTech303]

hey do you remember a man by the name of petty officer saladin that was in charge of the corrosion control shop for vp-48 and also was in vp-46

[pilot4prophet]

I really like this aircraft. I got to hitcha ride on one from Hickum field out to Midway. Also got to se them drop torpedoes during ASW exercises off the Hawiian Islands. I was onboard the USS Cushing DD-985 at the time. Very cool airplane.

[srt4crazy289]

isn the P-3 now used some what by custums?? and and boarder control

[tyrone9009]

yes.

[cubberleygirl]

Outstanding. Thank you for this.

[KansasMusicLover1]

Thanks for the pleasant memories...

VP-48, VP-22 ground pounder

AT1 USN (Ret)

[purgatoryarts]

Nice memory lane video for me, I served with VP-17 ,flying Market Time mission in the South China Sea in 1971

[nascar158]

Good video but I wish you would have shown the EP-3's too.

[Fania54]

Excellent tribute to a great aircraft.

[pakdefv]

I have seen P-8 Poseidon, a fine replacement for the P-3s. For India, they would go far beyond their limits. For Pakistan, P-3s serve this purpose well and enough.

[pakdefv]

After their retirement, they might be sold to us (Pakistan) or to India. Our PN(Pakistan Navy) intends to replace French-built Atlantique-2 aircrafts as for they don't offer much of wide variety within our spectrum of requirements, therefore PN endorsed bids for these used-version maritime sea-keepers and we had received 3 of 6 P-3Cs which landed at Mehran Naval Station at Karachi Anyways great job

[flighsimer]

thanks, i doubt any would go to india though because they signed a contract a few months ago for the P-8i, which is based on the P-8A.

[NordicBlondeBeauty]

NIce job on the video. Great stuff.

[kekenalii]

so what are the indications of pitchlocked decoupled prop?

[drummerfromoly]

During the cold war , these babies were flying in and out of Moffett Field in Sunnyvale Ca. They would fly right over the Santa Clara valley at least 4 to 5 times a day. They would be doing sub searches I guess. How are they used today? Right now I hear them flying over Olympia Wa. into Ft. Lewis.

In the last week or two I have heard them fly over more and more.

[leotard7230]

Great video. I flew in this bird a lot. VP-93, VP-66, VP-69 and VP-4046 (SAU).

[flyboymd82]

flighsimer, I know they use the P-3 to fly into hurricanes to measure the barometric pressure in the "eye". Do we use any other aircraft right now to do that too?

A friend of mine thought they flew into the eyes with C-130's too & I disagreed with him. Never heard of them using a C-130 for that. Can you tell me who's right?

Will the new 737-800 be able to do that? Won't the massive amounts of water intake cause a flameout in a jet engine as opposed to a turboprop??

[flighsimer]

yes i can help. You both are correct. NOAA flys the p-3 (WP-3D). The USAF flys the C-130J (WC-130 aka: hurricane hunters) into the storms. actually most of it is done with the c-130's. currently there are only 2 p-3 versions while the c-130 sqaud has 10 i believe. so you both are right. now on to the p-8. the p-8 wont ever fly those missions not because they cant, but because NOAA owns there p-3s so they wont be replaced with the p-8. however if the p-8 would be fitted out to do that mission >>>

[flighsimer]

they probably could. really turboprop engines are nothing but jet engines with propellers being used instead of fans moving and compressing the air to make the thrust. i dont think the jet engine would flame out. they are tested very heavily to find out how much water would actually be able to pass through the engines. and there is a simple way to limit that amount of water, which would be just to slow down. NOAA also uses the Gulfstream G-IV, so if it can do it, the p-8 should be able to also.

[flyboymd82]

Thanks for the info. I didn't even know they used G-IV's for that. I'll let him know we are both right.

I remember reading about a DC-9 that got into a severe thinderstorm and the massive water intake flamed out both engines. It crashed killing some passengers. They tried to land it on a road. I think it was Arkansas??? in the 1980's. Thats why I asked about the jet/turboprop diff.

Do you fly P-3's?

I have my private ticket and am about halfway thru instrument rating.

con't

[flyboymd82]

One last question. Whats the twin turboprop that the military lands on aircraft carriers? My buddy thoght the P-3 can land on a deck. The P-3 can't do that can it? Its huge.

BTW nice video!

[flighsimer]

no, dont fly them, but my brother works on them.

part 2, no they cant land on the carrier. the aircraft u are thinking of would be the E-2 Hawkeye (has the dome on top) or the C-2 Greyhound which is a little bit fatter than the e-2 and has no dome, but is used to transport people/supplies/mail to/from the carrier.

thanks

[flyboymd82]

Yeah, the Hawkeye is the one I was thinking of. It was driving me crazy not being able to remember the name even though I could see the plane in my mind! Thanks.

[flighsimer]

yup no problem

[warrages1]

@flighsimer you can land a p-3 on the flight deck of a carrier. only used in emergency procedures. but you can't take off from them, you'll have to wait till the carrier ports.

[P3cNavyBrat]

@warrages1 Cool Fact!! The crew that had to ditch off ADAK in 1978 would have loved to have had a place to land, even a carrier. My Dad was the TACCO in the Ready Aircraft.

[jonyboy1131]

@warrages1 Do you even know what a P-3 is?????? Please tell me how you would do it, cause there is no arresting gear on a pig dumb ass!!

[warrages1]

@jonyboy1131 hey kid, i know what the hell a p-3 is. i work on them. patrol squadron eight in jax, FL. been working on them for a couple of years.

[jonyboy1131]

@warrages1 Wow how long have you worked on them, 3weeks, maybe 4.....I just want you to explain to me, a real sailor, who has worked on A-6's, F-4's, A-4's, and P-3's, W/T56-14 engines (not the old -10's) how you would land that on a flat top, Crash net?, yea...no, whats the next option......I worked out of Barbers, VP-17, 4 years, did some of the first trips to Dodge, 3 west packs, and a pleasant trip to Adak. So again tell me....how do you land it on a flat top?

[Froogleplex]

im Australian, but my family lived in the States when we were stationed at Mountain View San-Fran because my dad was flying P-3's out of Moffat Field(i was born then, so im a dual citizen now.. it pretty coolies) the wicked thing about the RAAF is that you can take your family on the plane with you when youre stationed overseas. I have many memories of the noisy engines flying to Malaysia, in those awesome planes...

Great Tribute, its brought back many good memories!!

Thanks

[flighsimer]

your welcome :D

but i foregot to put the japan and raaf planes in the origional :(

[garybridgham]

Really enjoyed your production. I didn't even think once to myself "How much more is there of this?" Very Good. I remember P-3s from my time stationed in Mayport,FL with the Coast Guard.

[nebbia1521]

I grew up about 3 miles from Nas Moffat Feild.

Every time I go back to Sunnyvale something seems missing , its the P3's .

[matt75hooper]

The Sub Hunter A-Dubs Forever Vigilant.

[twoolverton]

great vid. this from a retired AW with 18 years and 50,ooo plus hours in bravos and charlies

[wilburhog]

One of a kind airplane..

[f2496]

my father flew p-3's for 22 years in the navy, he was a flight engineer.

[sarasota1111]

Great video. My dad handled the logistics for this aircraft at ASO(Phila., PA) from the 1960's through the 1980's. He loved this plane as did I for all those years growing up.Brings back great memories of an exciting aircraft.

[syizm]

Currently an FE in Brunswick, ME.

[Flightman14]

Nice vid. I had the choice of going p3s or mh53s and I picked the 53s just because i'm more of a helicopter guy. But I do like the p3

[thadutchguy]

Nice, Dutch navy sold them a few years ago :( they were helping the US coastguard on the War on Drugs. nice planes:)

[borobum1]

I was an IFT in VP-50 '81-'84 BT also, I still miss that plane, wish I could do it all again. Great job on the video.

[mchume65]

I was AX1 groundpounder in VP-50 from '83 to '87.

[davecsullivanjr]

The P-8A is going to have a tough time living up to the P-3.

Great vid.

[jmore10118]

Great tribute to a wonderful airplane.

[brainards1]

good video my friend.

[martinofellwood]

Ahh....those many long, low overwater flights!!

[stinkingdog101]

VP-9 '75 -'78 Moffett Field , Ca. Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for the video.

[flighsimer]

yup no problem... im thinking about trying to fly the p-8 when it comes online, so that way i could go straight into commercial upon retiring... my brother works with Vp-45, the pelicans, in Jax...

[difar53]

Love that airplane... have flown over 5000 hours and been to every continent excep antarctica in them.

[P3TED]

Nice one!

[ericorion13]

No one surfs Blue Shark Turf!

[Orionman06]

Man I miss those days, what a ride it was and what a great squadron I had the pleasure to fly with "VP-6 The Blue Sharks". Super B rules!!!!!

[Hangar747]

great times great video

from Speedy VP-26 87-89

[Miikoyan2]

good job from Miikoyan from FlyNET

[PlainplaneProduction]

That is a very good tribute video.

[tomspink]

This is outstanding. I was lucky enough to fly as part of a crew for 18 years, active and reserve. Great airplane and great friends. I will forward this to the community so everyone can see your beautiful work. Bravo Zulu, as we say in the Navy. (That's "Great Job in civilian speak)

[dynaquest1]

Ahhhh....saw both VP-6 (Blue Shark) and VP-45 (Pelican) P-3's....brought back a ton of memories. Will miss them. The P-8 will never be the same....too damn big...just not the same. Nice video....did you use muvee software to make it?

[flighsimer]

vp-45 is my brothers squad... and no i used windows movie maker.

[checkingvidstoday]

Really enjoyed your show.  Thanks for the memories.....

[stebo222]

Very nice tribute. Even some old A's and B's in the pics!

[skylink156]

If you fly P-3 you ain't shit.

A retired P-3 flight engineer

[flighsimer]

wat? i dont fly them, but my brother works on them.

[123FG123]

Very good job on the video. It is a nice tribute to the P-3 Orion plane. I miss the sound of the Orion aircraft, almost like the signature sound of a Harley motorcycle. I will keep this on my top ten play list. Fellow VP'er.

[scenepointjudge]

Alot. :) I fly as an IFT on those bad boys and every day I fly, I love that plane more and more.

[flighsimer]

my brother works on the engine of them... vp-45 in jax...

[scenepointjudge]

Nice video. I'm a grammar Nazi, though...

[flighsimer]

I looked though it, couldnt see any... were there?