P-3 Orion Visitors


P-3A Orion 150507 (MSN 185-5033) at Mascot on 25 April 1964. This aircraft subsequently served with the Spanish Air Force and the Chilean Navy. Picture: Eric Allen
P-3A Orion 152147 (MSN 185-5117) at Mascot on 7 May 1966. The aircraft was retired to AMARC on 6 January 1993.Picture: Eric Allen
RP-3A Orion 149667 (MSN 185-5008) El Coyote at Brisbane on 1 March 1982. This Orion was operated by VXN-8, based at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. The aircraft was adorned with the familiar Warner Bros cartoon character Wile E. Coyote. Project Seascan was a U.S. Navy program to monitor the state of the world's oceans. The aircraft was withdrawn from service in October 1984 and subsequently scrapped at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. Picture: Ron Cuskelly (V222)
RP-3A Orion 149667 (MSN 185-5008) El Coyote at Brisbane on 1 March 1982. This Orion was operated by VXN-8, based at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. The aircraft was adorned with the familiar Warner Bros cartoon character Wile E. Coyote. Project Seascan was a U.S. Navy program to monitor the state of the world's oceans. The aircraft was withdrawn from service in October 1984 and subsequently scrapped at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.Picture: Ron Cuskelly (V224)
RP-3D Orion 158227 (MSN 285A-5551) of Project Magnet at Brisbane, Eagle Farm on 3 December 1975. This Orion was operated by VXN-8, based at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. Although the aircraft carries the Warner Bros Roadrunner character, it does not yet carry the name Paisano Tres. Project Magnet was a U.S. Navy program to monitor the earth's magnetic field. This aircraft was subsequently retired to AMARG at Davis Monthan.Picture: Ron Cuskelly (J053)
RP-3D Orion 158227 (MSN 285A-5551) of Project Magnet at the Brisbane Temporary International Terminal on 7 November 1982. This Orion was operated by VXN-8, based at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. By this time, the aircraft carried the name Paisano Tres in addition to the Warner Bros Roadrunner character. Project Magnet was a U.S. Navy program to monitor the earth's magnetic field. This aircraft was subsequently retired to AMARG at Davis Monthan. Picture: Ron Cuskelly (W095)
VP-3A Orion 149675 (MSN 185-5016) at the Brisbane Temporary International Terminal on 3 May 1982. By this time, the aircraft had been converted as an "Admiral's Barge" with an unattractive "bobbed" tail. The aircraft has since been scrapped. Noteworthy in the background is the Qantas Freight Terminal still under construction. Also noteworthy in the distance is an Ansett Airlines Boeing 727-277 making a typical southbound departure off Runway 04.Picture: Ron Cuskelly (V361)
The very nature of its work dictates that this WP-3D Orion N42RF (MSN 285A-5622, BuNo 159773) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is rarely photographed in fine, sunny weather except at its home base in Florida. Photographed at the Brisbane Temporary International Terminal on 5 March 1979, the aircraft was conducting research into tropical cyclones under Project Stormfury. This aircraft is still in service with the NOAA at the time of writing.Picture: Ron Cuskelly (N301)

 

 

Issue
Date
Remarks
2
04NOV20
Added two images of early Orion visitors in the sixties thanks to Eric Allen.
1
31OCT14
Original issue.



Return to the Orion Menu

 

Return to the Lockheed File