Symphony of Piston and Jet Engines: Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune Test Flight

[@DrBearAviation]

Jet engines did run for takeoff. If in doubt, please have a close look of the engine inlets at 06:09. These old jet engines are thirsty for fuel and, as a consequence, the two jet engines were not fired up until the plane was at runway. The red cover we see at the engine inlet will collapse/fold inwards when engine is running. The red cover is part of the engine structure and is not the ordinary removable engine cover. It will be extended to block the inlet, in most scenarios, when the engine is not running to avoid the drag associated with windmilling.

[@mickb474]

Thank you, i was wondering about that 🤔

[@FranktheDachshund]

Probably close back up to keep debris out too.

[@vicariousjohnson9823]

I just used my ears.

[@p38arover22]

My Gawd, that looked nice. Good filming, too. Where does one find pilots qualified/trained/experienced in the Neptune?

[@markplott4820]

DELETE ice Aircraft , BEV Aircraft are BETTER.

[@tolson57]

My father was an IFT (In Flight Tech) on P2Vs when I was born at NAS Whidbey Island. He transitioned to P3s and retired after 31.5 years. I went into the family business and spent 20 years in the Navy working on Fire Control and Avionics for the F-14A, E-2C, S-3B, A-6E, A-7E, and FA-18A. It was a great job!

[@Chris_at_Home]

My older brother flew in these as an AO. Too bad you didn’t get duty in a VP squadron. I was in from 71-75 and got out as an AX2. I used to go many places with aircrews on detachments. I even went with 2 P-3s around South America for almost 4 months staying in nice hotels. I spent some time in Rota, Spain, Sicily, and the Azores. When we were on a five month deployment we could get dropped off somewhere for five days. I went to Athens when in Sicily and England when deployed the Azores. I never went on a ship.

[@ohwell2790]

When I was a child in the 1950's this was one of my favorite plastic models. Very purpose built airplane and just looked right. 80 now but remember it well.

[@afterburner2869]

I built a Neptune model as well when I was a kid. I built mine in the 70’s and it hung from my ceiling for years and I’ve never forgotten about the Neptune because of that model! 👍🏻

[@danielhawley6817]

I had one too...(in the 50's)...something about it...a strange combination of big radials and jet engines. I think it was lost to a firecracker in the early 60's!

[@lacfilms8345]

My Dad- flew one back in the late 50's till 1967, out of Pax River in southern Maryland. I think it was before this one without the Jet engines. He went to many places around the world when I was very young. He would always bring something back home from his travel locations. A fine tea set for my mom from Japan, Rum & Chivas Regal from Jamaica, a picture of him meeting the Sultan of Morocco. Back during the Cuban Missile crisis- he flew out of Key West & Pensacola Fla airbases in the Neptune. The VP-661 was active for many years. He once fly over my head- when I was young at the family beach cottage near Brooms Island, MD and waggled the wings at us. Many thanks for posting this, brings back some great memories of my Dad- Lt. Cmd. Frank E. Warner resting peacefully now in Arlington National Cemetary. of him

[@flewnvy]

Absolutely stunning video and audio. My late father flew the Neptune in Vietnam. I grew up a Navy brat and followed in his footsteps and was a P-3 NFO. 23 year career. I will always remember my dad’s stories about the P-2 and still think the Neptune was one of the most graceful aircraft ever designed by Lockheed (after the Constellation of course). What a machine. Thank you for the memories of my dad and his plane.

[@signorpippistrello]

The combined sound of radials and jets is too good!

[@billthomas635]

I doubt there would be jets fitted, at 8:29 the covers were still in the jets but unclear. The jets needed 145 octane, purple fuel which would be unavailable. Besides the bird would be many tons lighter than when in service and only lightly fuelled so the power would be superfluous.

[@AFriendlyTheo]

@@billthomas635 6:22 you can see the port engine burning.

[@signorpippistrello]

@@billthomas635 While taxiing the covers are still closed but open on takeoff and the first pass. And you can HEAR them clearly.

[@billthomas635]

@@signorpippistrello If you say so.. I know the covers open when the jets run. doh! Please tell me where they would buy high octane unleaded petrol and why they would bother. It is possible that they don't care if the jets get lead build up, they are only there for show on a "war bird". At the TO weight they would be at it would be a doddle to climb out on one engine after a failure at Vr. In service they had tons weight of "steam driven" electronics and fuel for 8 hr sorties. Do a search on "Truculent Turtle" to get an idea on flight times. In an anti-submarine exercise they would operate low [

[@MADmosche]

@@billthomas635these jet engines run on normal AvGas like the radials so that the planes didn’t need separate fuel tanks. As others have already mentioned, the jets have an automatic inlet cover and they don’t start the jets until they are on the runway and preparing to take off since they would burn a ton of fuel while taxiing. You can also see the jet exhaust and clearly hear the whine of the jet engines 😂

[@scottnj2503]

There's nothing like sight, smell and sound of a big aviation radial engine(s). I flew in P-3s with many fellows that flew in P-2s. Ahhh the sea stories. Thanks for this video and sound.

[@sonnyburnett8725]

We sure would love to hear some of your stories my friend.

[@B25gunship]

They were both great planes. I'm more familiar with the P-3 as they were in service when I was stationed at Naval Station Argentia Newfoundland from Nov 67 to May 69 at the communication station. Did a couple ride alongs on P-3 training flights. Tons of touch and goes at Arg, St. John's, and Gander as well as instrument approaches which didnt go so well. They flew in a P-2 on Navy day and I went aboard for a look see. Pretty cramped inside compared to the P-3 which of course is based on the L-188 passenger version. Both great aircraft just the same. Wished then I could have been attached to a VP.

[@jonathanrice1070]

I’ve always wondered how the jet engines sounded. You captured it perfectly. Thank you.

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks for your watching. I am glad that your enjoyed it.

[@aaaht3810]

Beautiful aircraft. Great lines. Love the paint scheme.

[@robertweldon7909]

1/6/2024 While serving in the US Navy at North Island Air Station, in San Diego (VS41 {S2's} 1967-1969), there was a squadron of P2V's assigned there. I don't recall the squadron number. The P2's were at the end of their service life and so there were many times that one would come in with a prop engine shut down and the jets running. The old birds just looked tired to me, painted a drab Navy gray. The P2's had replaced the P5, and were replaced by the P3, and now the P7. The last P5 to fly made its last flight out of North Island, on it way to the museum, I got to see it leave. It is now at the Naval Air museum in Pensacola, Fla. I think they also have a P2. It is nice to see a P2V looking bright and new, and running like new too. Great job restoring the old bird. ;-)

[@keithbrown9198]

What a gorgeous and rare relic! I was C-130 aircrew and knew guys that flew P-3s. Lockheed has made some outstanding airplanes over the decades, but I haven't seen this one since I was a kid. Awesome! 👍👍

[@BB-xn3kt]

mecano sur p2v7 aeronavale francaise flotille 25 F. de 1965 1969. Aujourd'hui j'ai 77 ans. il fait toujours partie de mes plus beaux souvenirs. Bon vol.

[@texleeger8973]

My Naval aviator uncle, then a Lieutenant Commander, flew these out of the now sadly abandoned Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine in the early 1960s. His patrols took him out over the North Atalantic in a search for Soviet submarines. I do recall two great thrills he provided. He took my brother and me to the flight line and let us view the cockpit (not sure how kosher that was but my uncle was never one for Navy regulations). The second was his always saving in flight ration packs for us kids. My fav was the canned bread although I think Navy personnel were not at all enamored with that "treat". To this day I have a fondness for these P2Vs and I wish more were still in the skies. PS Brunswick NAS later converted to the P-3 Orions and I recall them flying deep into Maine on training runs. And, yes, I miss those lumbering beasts (one knew they were in area skies because of the deep rumbling drone they produced} very much. More recently, as I drove along the Maine Turnpike earlier this year, a P-8 Poseidon lept off the Portland (PDX) runway over the hood of my car. What a thrill. To this day I do not know why this patrol aircraft was at the International Airoport, but I do assume it was operated by the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One based in Maryland.

[@leighthetwinotterflyerjone9460]

Nice. 2 Turning and 2 Burning. Great video

[@privatepilot4064]

Two turnin’ and two burnin’!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I have all the respect for anyone who can rebuild and maintain the Wright R-3350 radial, piston engine which powers this P2V-7. It was somewhat of a temperamental beast and had to be operated "by the numbers." Otherwise, a powerful aircraft engine. Wonderful video and thanks for sharing!

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@user-lo6cf3df1x]

Nice to see the old bird flying great save for history

[@DebOxy]

Brilliant to see her back in the air. Your video close ups are spot on. New subscriber. I work on the Seafury at HARS.

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks for watching, and, most importantly, for the efforts that you guys put in the hard work to keep these historic planes in immaculate conditions. We really appreciate your dedication and contribution.

[@luckeyhaskins1734]

I came from P-3 active duty to a P-2 reserve squadron. I checked out in about 10 hours to be 2P. The P-2 was a joy to fly unboosted. For a big plane it was responsive. The warning was it could have a runaway electric up elevator trim failure emergency, which never happened to me, the FÉ could disable. Loved flying it.

[@otis295]

Those things used to rattle the dishes in the cabinet when they flew over. Always Loved it. Great aircraft.

[@ScottSillis]

I got to tour three of these aircraft when I served including this tail number at RAAF Townsville from memory before being sold to a private collector. The wing goes through the fuselage, jet engine assisted take-off capabilities. Beautiful aircraft, relatively low hours on that one too. Thanks for sharing!

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it, and that it evokes some good memories.

[@Cyfi71]

I grew up in West Seattle. It was P2Vs and Grumman S-2 Trackers all day long!

[@alanhua]

Outstanding filming works. Awesome, such smooth zooming.

[@XRQ9]

I was a Radio Operator/IFT on E-P3s out of Guam. We had a Detachment at NAF Atsugi, Japan. There, our ramp was next to a Japanese P-2V squadron. I used to stroll down and marvel at their immaculately cared-for aircraft. They weren't the dirty birds like ours since we flew a lot more than them. They must have flown with white flight gloves - the interiors looked spit-shined. Sure would've loved a ride in one of those P-2s!

[@MarsFKA]

In 1971/72, I worked in Lae. My workshop was opposite the threshold at the inland end of Lae Airport's runway, so I saw everything that came and went. The most spectacular event, by far, was watching Neptunes doing their pre-take off mag checks, then up to full power on the radials- I never knew a tail assembly could shake so much - start the jet engines and away. It never got old.

[@drunk3n_m0nk12]

We have one of these in the heritage park here at NAS JAX along with an S-2 and S-3 among a bunch of other aircraft. They flew them out of here until '71.

[@bernardanderson3758]

To finally see a plane of this Lockheed P2V-7 test flight in flight status

[@ozziepilot2899]

That is a thing of beauty, it's been a favourite ac of mine since I was a kid.

[@williamroberts1819]

Gorgeous sound and footage!

[@ikshields]

Gorgeous aircraft. Always loved the Neptune’s perfect, sleek, no-nonsense lines, and that nifty stinger tail. My Dad was the electronics tech on a US Navy P-2V during the ‘50’s. Apparently his crew spent the whole Korean War over the frigid North Sea, buzzing Chinese and Russian submarines at near sea level. They flew so low, in fact, he always said his biggest challenge was keeping salt water from ruining the electronics! 😮

[@MrThemold]

Had the good luck to catch a ride from NAS Olathe, KS. To MAS Willow Grove, PA in a SP2E 7K 224 in 1968

[@vernonsaayman9741]

Yes.my favourite revell kit too, 1957 box top art by kishady, ,over barbers point, hawaii

[@rogerhuber3133]

Love these A/C. I worked on them at NAS Dallas from 1970-72.

[@okkie1958]

Awesome plane still. I allways loved the Neptune which also served with the Dutch naval air service for quit some years. I had the honnor and joy once to be in the nose observers seat as a dutch marine and passenger during take off and landing from Aruba to St Maarten in 1976 for an exercise. I remember it well as it was an absolute joy and very impressive flight.

[@PhantomP63]

What a memorable way to enjoy flying over some beautiful scenery!

[@mikekennedy4572]

Nice to see a P2 Neptune in its full ASW configuration and paint scheme again. There were a couple of USN Neptune squadrons based at NAS Los Alamitos in the 50s and 60s, and as a kid I used to frequently see them overhead as they were on their long landing approach coming from northeast of the base. I loved seeing all the Navy aircraft over the years, but one day when we had heavy fog, I was startled to hear a Neptune flying particularly low. It was lower than I had seen any plane on final to Los Alamitos. The familiar shape and markings of the P2 could be seen passing what seemed a few hundred feet above us as we stood on the school playground. Scared the heck out of me.

[@クアドリフォリオ-r4o]

綺麗な動画ありがとうございました。 成田空港が開港するまでは海自下総基地～銚子方面の上空をほぼ毎日飛んでいました。 身近に感じた初めての飛行機だったと思います。 今も飛行可能な状態で保存されているのは羨ましいです。 空冷星形エンジンが空冷V型OHVのハーレーダビットソンのエンジン音に似ていると思います。 大型機の重厚感、迫力を感じます。

[@briansilcox5720]

Excellent camera work.

[@michaelsullo3698]

Two turning and two burning, just the way I like it.

[@hughmarloweverest1684]

Very graceful and fun. Great presentation.

[@RobertTaylor-vo4rz]

When I was in South Vietnam in 1971 I had occasion to fly from Phan Rang to Saigon to drop off and pickup mail at the Australian AFPO at Ton Son Nut. I travelled on the C123 K(?) Which also had the jet augmentation system similar to the P2V-7,the jet engines were not started until the aircraft lined up for takeoff and were shutdown shortly after climbout was safely established. Strange to see wings flapping up and down, engines nodding up and down and jets straining to.leave the wings. The noise inside was terrific. (Ex EDASST 2SQN RAAF)

[@larsjansen1596]

super vidio

[@mothmagic1]

Probably the best anti submarine and maritime reconnaisance platform of the ere.

[@ikshields]

If my Dad’s US Navy Neptune crew stories are accurate, it may as well have BEEN a submarine sometimes, judging by how close they could fly to the water. 😅💪🏻

[@mt5144]

Well Done Guys, Looks and sounds amazing, First time I have seen one fly, I have seen lots of Neptune's in Aviation museums but none in the air.

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. At the moment it is the only airworthy Neptune in the world.

[@Ron-b7g]

THE P3 HELD LONG DISTANCE RECORD FOR MANY YEARS. I WAS AROUND THEM FOR 6 YEARS IN NAVY RESERVE . I WAS A BB STACKER.

[@fw1421]

Long,long time ago I built the Hasegawa 1/72 scale kit of this. As I recall it didn’t have the belly radar dome but was a beautiful kit. Great looking aircraft.

[@Andrew-13579]

I think I had the kit, too! 😀. I sure wish I had kept it. I’m pretty sure it DID have the radome. It was a nice kit. I didn’t paint it, though. Now I’d paint it just like this one, except in USN markings probably. I wonder if they will get that search radar working. That would be cool to operate and do some real surface searching off the coast.

[@iaidagger8278]

Yes indeed the SP2H NEPTUNE kit from Hasegawa 1/72 has the large radar!!!😊😊❤❤❤

[@P61guy61]

Awesome. Thank you for sharing.

[@briandugan4974]

Stunning. Not sure about the title though. The jet engines weren’t running, the intake doors (red) were closed.

[@josephsechler2335]

Nice to see. My dad flew the U.S. Navy version before transitioning to the P-3.

[@TheMigueS]

This plane had a great job at Argentina - Great Britain war, in 1982. It helped argentinian navy to spot british ships.

[@bountyhunter_5150]

Gorgeous looking airplane!

[@joevanseeters2873]

The Flight Engineer has the best seat in the house!

[@mikeschultz5125]

My dad flew flight engineer on P2s out of Kodiak and Adak in the early 50s. He then switched to jet maintenance with many carrier deployments. He was TDY'd back to P2s flying out of Homestead AFB monitoring maritime traffic in the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[@dlkline27]

Love that prop sound and being turned by a pair of Wright R-3350s. Lots of power.

[@darrylguise8493]

I had a flight in one of these in the early 70s from Nowra to Sydney. On completion of an exercise one rep from each ship was transported to Nowra by helicopter for the wash-up. The RAAF was providing transport back to Sydney to re-join our ships. I picked the Neptune because it would be the fastest way home. I can't remember what all the other A/C were but one was a Caribou and the P2 left it for dead.

[@jerrysilvers7136]

I had the pleasure flying on one of these when I was in the USN AIR RESERVES. It was a great plane. It was good to see one flying again.

[@MrAvjones]

I was in a squadron that had the P2V's, and we switched to the P3 Orion's.

[@WilliamWhisnant-y5p]

My cousin flew a PV-1 in the Pacific during WWll and then was called up during the Korean War and flew the P2V. He died in 2017 at age 97. Great guy and smart humble man with a lot of harrowing stories about his time in the Navy.

[@barbarossa1234]

What a beautiful airplane.

[@bernie2108]

Those wright duplex radials are real dirty buggers firing up. Good photography BTW.

[@blindfoldedmissile]

so smooth

[@kenmarsh2668]

As the saying goes “ 2 turning-2 burning”; had a few hundred hours flying them around 1970. Good memories.

[@jamesleger3315]

Was a crew member, AT2, in squadron VP9 out of Alameda, California from '60-'62. 1700

[@kenmarsh2668]

@@jamesleger3315 GOOD ON YOU; you more than likely had many trips slithering over the wing spar!

[@jamesleger3315]

@@kenmarsh2668 A whole bunch.

[@jimw5227]

Some of you P-2 fliers probably remember this expression, ("chow on the wing beam"). VP-56 1967- 1969, NAS Norfolk VA. and NAS PAX River MD.

[@jorgehidalgo4792]

What a beautiful aircraft

[@TommyWylie]

I saw one of these flying overhead in Kirkwall, Orkney, around 1974 (I can't be sure of the year). I was about 10 years old at the time and I was keen on aircraft. While I was in the school playground I heard big piston engines then I heard jets, and that strange combination made me look carefully at what was flying overhead. I have absolutely no doubt that it was a Neptune. I wonder who would be operating one of those in the UK in the mid 1970s! It was a lucky moment. Not too many people can claim to have seen one of these planes.

[@woodeye6699]

Around 1948 a P2V flew the longest (at the time) non-stop non-refueled flight from Australia to Port Columbus, Naval Air Station Ohio

[@WAL_DC-6B]

That particular P2V Neptune is now on display at the Naval Aviation History Museum at Pensacola, Florida.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Love the Neptune

[@karlharrelson1091]

Wow, what a great purr, whistle and whine. Smooth as silk.

[@TeemarkConvair]

cool beans.. ( in my old USAF days we NEVER pulled the power cable form the generator, we picked up the plug and walked it back) ! MAN, to be there,, what a classic..

[@trob0914]

She's a Beauty for being 60+ years old! It's to bad HARS couldn't have more flying models!!

[@chrispetri4904]

Its,always nice to see them restore the oddball type aircraft . When I say oddball I mean it's one of those types that you don't see very often . We see mustangs, spitfire, Mitchell's and 17s and 24s being restored mostly so it's good to see one like the Neptune being restored to flying status. Great restoration.

[@beverlychmelik5504]

I Haven't heard those since 1976 when I was stationed in Okinawa Japan.

[@ManuelGarcia-ww7gj]

Very, very well-tuned radials!

[@HFamilyDad]

Nice to sea one fly, I became interested in this when I saw the one on static display at RAF Cosford UK.

[@paultanker5606]

G'day to you, it does my old heart good to see such a Beautiful Aircraft like this still flying and not on the Scrap heap the HARS boys have done a great job, makes me proud to be an Ozzie! from Perth WA

[@gregster1950]

I read a comment here about the brakes squeaking, like they should. I have written WWII posts, but never received a comment. Why is that? My did flew on a P2V-7 Neptune, but he has passed, so I cannot ask him. Thanks for any info. I still have his patch from VP-18 and the photos, and miss him and his experiences so much.

[@michaelogden5958]

Quite a striking frontal profile!

[@Armstrongx7]

Can we just take a second to admire the camera skills on take off? I could count the wrinkles on the pilots face during that moment. Fantastic video!

[@vaterchenfrost7481]

Rare beauty well presented by perfect camera job!

[@stevebroughton4787]

Beautiful😊

[@felixalbertosantamaria7391]

I saw the Neptunes fly in the Malvinas war

[@EdwardKelly-vi9sg]

GREAT VIDEO. ....

[@diraziz396]

Well worth. job well done

[@12345fowler]

What a superb restauration for a badass aeroplane

[@scottnj2503]

p.s. in closing taxi scenes, I see a bunch of fellows that were once like me...lean mean fighting airmen. Now, a bit less lean. No less mean. Many times blessed with the privilege to be sitting in those seats.

[@zTheBigFishz]

My dad was a flight engineer on one of these during the Korean War.

[@bpp325]

Them recips sure sound sweet. If you listen carefully you can hear the jet engines working. 👍👍

[@drumswest5035]

Enjoyed the video, camera work was awesome!

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@rocksnot952]

Beautiful plane. Wonder what is flapping around behind the main landing gear.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Beautiful machine (even the radome doesn't spoil it too much). What are the engines?

[@greghudson1489]

Cool. There is a "carcass" of one of these at Ft Novosel, AL minus the belly radome/MAD faring.

[@coolruehle]

Such an AWESOME aircraft!!!

[@rosaless69]

enhorabuena,gran mantenimiento, parece nuevo

[@bholdr----0]

My grandfather started on Avengers in 1944, and eventually was the C.O. of VP-17, and the P2V was the last aircraft he ever flew... after he retired he said he spent his last day flying, in a time when naval aviators were grounded at 45 years old, doing some touch-and-gos, and putting it through its paces... when asked why he never flew again, and didn't take a job with an airline, he said: 'I flew P2Vs- why would I want to drive a bus?'

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Superb video of this great classic aircraft I was fortunate to visit the HARS Museum in January when on vacation in Australia, I managed to see this and the Tracker land back after a short flypast for Australia Day. Would love to have been there for the start up and departure but I did manage to film them landing for my channel thanks for sharing this only flying Neptune in the world.

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@Evgenik45]

this is really beautiful plane i've never seen before

[@DymondzTrucking1962]

It always surprised me all the countries that run that Airplane. That they didn't convert it to turbo props. They were a very good airplane they had good range and good Time on station.

[@Narutakikun]

There was a Japanese P-2 turboprop conversion made by Kawasaki.

[@briansmith2616]

What a beauty!

[@robertrettig7110]

I'm a retired Navy Nurse who started my career as a Ao1 in VP 46, 31, and 91. I served with another Ordie in VP 46 who flew in P2's in Vietnam where he told me stories about the Ordnance they jury rigged on their birds to drop ashore! Amazing stories!

[@normanfawley7379]

Cor ! Wouldn't mind that seat in the front !

[@DrBearAviation]

That seat in the nose perhaps is the best one in the whole plane!

[@ricardomoraes3844]

Belíssima maquina voadora❤

[@DrBearAviation]

Sim, este helicóptero é absolutamente deslumbrante.

[@theflyingfool]

Magnificent old girl!