Orion in Australian Service

[@davecollins6122]

Worked on as a RadTech (Later renamed as a Avionics Techician) from 1986 to 1998, loved them 🙂 The RAAF operated P3C (7XX) and P3W Orion’s (6XX), the P3W's where newer, but were built with the P3C avionics package, so they were given the 6XX tail numbers as they were built "out of sequence" in the Lockheed Martin build pipeline. The also operated some P3B’s in the late 1980’s (I can’t remember the exact year), they were original going to fit them with cargo doors to be more self-sufficient during deployments, but the RAAF heavy lift group said if they did they would be considered a “cargo” plane and they would control them, so never fitted the cargo doors and used them pilot training instead.

[@GLB-f7s]

Thanks for the good summary. I had 2500hrs on P-3C/AP-3C as a Nav/TACCO. Was on the final flight ontop Bullimore when he was picked up by the Navy. But that wasn't the most incredible SAR I was involved in. We got diverted from a routine Pacific surveillance patrol to look for 3 blokes in a tinnie that had tried to do a 100nm open ocean transit between two islands in Micronesia and hadn't been heard from in 7 days. On the last day of searching before being called off we had the easternmost search area, after that it was America for these blokes. At the EXACT right time, the radar broke and we extended east outside the search area by 20nm while troubleshooting, and there they were! Great aircraft, great crews to fly with, great days!

[@heattile]

My amazing late father was a P-3 plane commander and participated in Operation Market Time. He always said the Orion was an incredible aircraft: plenty of power and loiter time in abundance. On orders from a squadron commander, he flew a stripped down Orion on three engines to a maintenance depot, achieving what may have been the only three engine P-3 takeoff in the US Navy.

[@AtariPCnet]

Always loved seeing the Orions as a kid. I grew up in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide in the 80's-90's and seeing Orions in the air used to be almost a daily occurance. At the Primary School I went to the Oval at the back of the School faced in North-West direction so was in a perfect position to see them perform "touch-and-goes" quite regulary presumably off runway 4-22 which runs almost parallel to where I would of been looking from the Oval. Could only see them low on the horizon but on ocassion they would fly directly over us in a more southerly direction and I assumed they were the ones headed off on patrol. I no longer live in Adelaide but I did visit a few years back and I made sure to visit the South Australian Aviation Museum to see the AP-3C (A9-756) they have on display which served with 10 Squadron/92 Wing. Was such a thrill to touch and climb onboard an Orion I most likely saw flying many times as a kid. Beautiful aircraft.

[@chrismillard4651]

Munno Para Primary School?

[@AtariPCnet]

@@chrismillard4651 No, Salisbury Downs Primary School. We were probably seeing the same touch-and-goes just from opposite ends of the runway. :)

[@chrismillard4651]

Probably, and I remember the Orions too, and the C-130's but you knew what you were looking at by the tail.@@AtariPCnet

[@homebase5934]

I was in a big river town (MB) about an hour away in the early 90's. I still remember a few times seeing FA18's flying really low, following the river when i was skipping a few school lessons.

[@chrismillard4651]

@@homebase5934 Naughty

[@corvanphoenix]

Thanks very much! I love learning about the service & history of my defence forces. There's a lot to be proud of.

[@brushitoff503]

I seen the final landing of the last two P-3's. No fanfare, nothing. Very different from when the Naval one's were retired, I was there for that too. Thanks for the video.

[@enigma9k]

My dad was part of 11 Squadron for a large part of his career through the 80’s and into the mid 90’s. I’ve always had fond memories of these aircraft, never did quite get used the plain grey paint jobs though. Just doesn’t looks right. Was sad to see them go but I understand the changing of times requires new tools.

[@adrianbooth438]

Around 1980 my Australian family holidayed on Penang - I was about 13 years old. We *still* talk about the time an RAAF Orion flew the whole length of our beach - and directly over us - at no more than 100 feet altitude. Made me proud to be Australian!

[@markfryer9880]

On holiday and a free Air Show laid on! What a holiday! Lucky bugger, I and others are just a tad jealous of course.

[@glennmcc64]

They were good to work on, and comfy (if slowish) to fly on. Fond memories.

[@darklordojeda]

Weren't they the fastest prop driven planes in history?

[@rastarn]

@@darklordojeda No. They did hold a number of official speed records in their class at various times though. Fastest civilian prop is the Piaggio P.180 Avanti. Fastest military prop is the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear and the Tupolev Tu-142 Bear H/J derivative of the Tu-95.

[@glennmcc64]

@@darklordojeda: I did say slowish, modern jet airliners are much better, I did fly in the Caribou, that was painfully slow, buses on a nearby highway seemed to be going faster.

[@darklordojeda]

@@glennmcc64 lol, wow that is slow.

[@leandabee]

❤👌, sad watching the last one going out😢, but got to hear the lovely velvety voice of Mr Narrator 😃👌

[@weblightstudio8215]

Australia's brand of excellence.

[@michaelpowell6023]

brilliant aircraft. Any idea on the peregrine EW aircraft service date? or service entry?

[@andrewbarron7690]

My condolences to anyone closely connected to Flying Officer Henniker who may watch this video.

[@chrispeters4405]

not to be confused with the nasa orion crewed space module

[@misterbig9025]

Why did Australia have to track the Soviets?

[@thadiusthudpucker]

Because they carried many things that go bang

[@markfryer9880]

Well they were in and around our territorial waters. The Soviets also came snooping around when the Collins Class submarine was launched so that they could get a digital fingerprint of its sound profile when underwater.

[@7thsealord888]

There was this thing called the Cold War going on. Perhaps you heard of it?