HARS to operate ex RAAF P-3 Orion as warbird

I could never get Phil’s original link to work, but fortunately HARS has made another post which has stuck around (copied here for non-Facebook folk):

AP-3C Orion Handover to HARS

HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT RESTORATION SOCIETY Inc

Media Release
CHIEF OF AIR FORCE, AIR MARSHAL LEO DAVIES
AP-3C ORION

The Chief of Air Force Air Marshall Leo Davies AO CSC, will be holding a special handover function at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society facility, Illawarra Regional Airport, at 11 am Friday 3rd November following the RAAFAIR Australian Department of Defence’s recommendation to the United States State Department to release for historic flying operations one of the RAAF AP3C Lockheed Orion surveillance aircraft.

This is a very historic event recognising the role the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has played in saving our aviation heritage, in particular the RAAF aircraft that have served Australia since WWII. In fact HARS has over 20 former RAAF aircraft in its collection, many of those have been restored to flying and it is intended now that the transfer of ownership of the Orion has been approved, to also fly that aircraft in support of RAAF history.

The Orion replaced the Lockheed Neptune aircraft that had served with the RAAF from the late 40’s up to 1977. The new P-8A Poseidon aircraft is now progressively replacing the Orion aircraft in RAAF service which is expected to take place over the next few years. HARS not only operates and has a number of former RAAF Neptune aircraft (serial number 273 flying, and on public display 281 and now at our Parkes museum satellite 272). We also operate a Catalina flying boat which the Neptune replaced following WWII operations.

Media and the public are cordially invited to be with the Chief of Air Force making this presentation at 11 am on Friday 3rd November. No RSVP is required and there will be opportunity for the media and the members of the public to talk to the Chief of Air Force on the significance of this event and the very important role that the Air Force plays in Australian security.

The HARS AP-3C Orion has itself participated in overseas operations as well as searching for the lost MH370 airliner and many other very important security and historical events and the history of this aircraft will eventually be disclosed and showcased with it at our HARS facility.

They followed up with this:

The acquisition of an AP-3C by HARS is a really big thing. This requires specific approval by the United States Government.

Until the handover, it is still the property of the Defence Department and despite the fact it has been sitting on the tarmac at HARS for these few months, we have not had access to the aircraft – as it should be – and even though it has had the appropriate equipment removed.
Yes we are excited – as are the people here who have operated this aircraft in one of their previous lives.

We only had internal launchers, no external tubes (B model Orion. Heavily modified. Some heavy wing some light wing). SUS doesn’t sound familiar to me but you’re thinking of the same thing. Looked like a 25lb practice bomb. Had 6 codes. The first 5 were standard (I think they were: Surface immediately we need help. Stay submerged shipping in area. We found you you’re dead. We can’t find you and we give up. Can’t remember #5). The sixth was prearranged before the exercise, if needed.
Fun times.

I remember playing with a Portugese sub once and we dropped the unit (little blue practice bomb thing with 6 codes you could program) to tell him he was dead.

It was IIRC called the Signal Underwater Sound (SUS) and released from an internal launcher. We didn’t use it very much, normally only when we had a task that might require us communicating with a submarine and then we would have a prearranged set of SUS codes for the purpose. Our normal training store was the Anti Submarine Target Indicator (ASTI) that was released from the bomb bay. Much less subtle than the SUS, it attracted the target’s attention with a series of very loud bangs.

it goes into great detail about ASW ops and the development by RCA of sonobouys. The USN asked for something and it didn’t take them long to develop it.

I think that they probably got a bit of help there. The first SSN blimp squadron was formed at NAS Lakehurst in January 1942. However the idea of expendable sonobuoys was proposed by the Chairman of the UK Admiralty Operational Research Committee in May 1941.

Although the concept was British, they were unable to spare the technical resources to develop the idea and a proposal was made for a joint development project with the US. Thus RCA, Camden and Columbia University, Connecticut carried out the initial development work in a joint effort with the Sonar Research Unit, Portland and the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

The proof of concept buoys were ship launched with the initial trials taking place in September 1941. If you are really keen, there is a book on UK Sonobuoy History. However I warn you it is for those with few other interests in life and who already have a good grounding in the subject. :sleeping:

exmpa

exmpa, but wasn’t if fun when you dropped your buoys in the right place and killed the sub before he could try and hide in a thermal layer! Haha. I felt sorry for them sometimes. I remember playing with a Portugese sub once and we dropped the unit (little blue practice bomb thing with 6 codes you could program) to tell him he was dead. Hit his sail and damaged one of his antennas! LOL. Could read the number on the sail the water was so clear.

We found him and cornered him within a few hours.

But yes, 20000eshp is noisy.

I just finished a book about ASW Blimps in WWII “Forgotten Weapon”…it goes into great detail about ASW ops and the development by RCA of sonobouys. The USN asked for something and it didn’t take them long to develop it.

Fascinating stuff, I’m guessing most aeroplane buffs probably need to learn more about avionics and electronics to better understand historic military ops and warbirds in general.

Currently, I ‘m reading a well researched and very well illustrated UK book on worldwide WWII naval operations (and a real bargain at Amazon). Again, not a great deal with specific types, but it would increase one’s knowledge about the conflict and help aircraft fans place the battles where aircraft were decisive into proper context.

[Would u mind explaining That? For those of us up have very little knowledge of anti-submarine patrols?

What I was referring to was aircraft noise detected on a sonobuoy(s) and displayed on the Lofar (Jezebel) paper recorder. The P3 and Bear F were quite distinctive. The issue was that what a sonobuoy can detect can also be detected by a submarine’s passive sonar and the potential target could be alerted to your presence. Good counter detection tactics were important.

I know that this is a wargamers’ hobby site, but it’s not a bad treatment of ASW tactics. Good starting point at least and quite readable.

Exmpa

Would u mind explaining That? For those of us up have very little knowledge of anti-submarine patrols?

P-3 has different engines, props and fuselage. And goes faster 410knots at sea level is when the overspeed horn goes off from memory and it will get there very easily.

It was certainly quick but it was it ever noisy, inside and out! The “mark on top” on the jez’ gram was unmistakeable (I could recognise it and I was a pilot!). I am not sure, but think it was even noisier that the Bear F and that’s saying something.

exmpa

The Australian Orions were a familiar sight at Fairford in the 90’s.
Was the damaged Buffalo one repaired and returned to flight?

HARS is also known as the retired QANTAS Captains’ Club.

Ah yes, so he did! Apologies. That’s what I get for skimming!

I have thousands of miles in the P-3 and loved every minute of it. Even better if the Air Ord was good in the galley on those long flights!

Mine too, Stormbird262! And they’re supposed to be getting John Travolta’s 707 at some point as well. Love that jet!

J Boyle asked if any Electras were still flying

David Burke and New Forest, that’s an Electra, not an Orion. Buffalo have Electra’s as well.

P-3 has different engines, props and fuselage. And goes faster 🙂 410knots at sea level is when the overspeed horn goes off from memory 🙂 and it will get there very easily.

not sure how they make it ox mate, but they have a major fleet of aircraft, my fav is the connie

They seem to have an awful lot of money behind them!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Spray/Lockheed-L-188A-AT-Electra/4523853?qsp=eJwtjbEKAkEMRH9FUtuIYHGdgp2ghT8QksE7bnWXbECX4/7duNg93gwzC0l%2BOT5%2BbwU0UAWbjLSlwsbPSsNCM9o7mwbTJcs8Aro5J4gbR69m81OLTNlxFEFx6N9fTWG/CFX65CMudgGwW2faH8LrVEvivgHnKdG6fgFrPjKa

C-FDTH flew in August, looking good!

Possibly with Buffalo

Good for them…I assume they’ve looked at the fuel burn chart in the POH and know what they’re getting into. 🙂

There used to be several ex-USN…and one ex USN, then ex-Spanish P3V/P-3A …Orions used as fire bombers in North America.

I don’t know if any remain in use.

BTW: do any Electras still fly?