In November 1964 the RAAF selected the Orion to replace the Neptunes of 11 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. These ten aircraft, A9-291 to A9-300 (Lockheed constructor's number 5401 to 5410, US Navy serials 155291 to 155300), were -3B-95-LO and -100-LO variants. The first was handed over to the Australians on January 10 1969. Unfortunately on April 11, A9-296 was written off when a defective undercarriage collapsed at the Moffett Field US Naval Air Station in California. This was replaced by 154605 (c/n 5286), a USN P-3B-105-LO, which became A9-605 in 1969.

The new base at Edinburgh allowed 11 Squadron's Orions to rapidly deploy to any part of the Australian coastline on maritime patrol duties. The high performance Allison T56-A-14 engines gave both a fast transit speed and a long range. As well as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search and rescue (SAR), coastal surveillance assumed an increasingly important role.

Meanwhile, the 10 Squadron SP-2H Neptunes at Townsville were now showing their age, so eight of the latest version of the Orion, the P-3C, were ordered in March 1975. The decision was then made to base all the Orions at RAAF Edinburgh, and in September 1976, the P-3C order was increased to ten aircraft. These aircraft, A9-751 to A9-760 (c/n 5657/5666, USN serials 160752/160760) were the P-3C-180-LO variant, known as P-3C Update 2. A9-751 flew into Moffet Field on delivery from Lockheed's Burbank plant on February 17 1978 for crew training and then arrived at Edinburgh on May 26. The final aircraft, A9-760 was delivered on January 16 1979.

The P-3C again differed a little externally from the P-3B, but offered a quantum leap forward in electronics and processing capability, which allowed a reduction in crew from 12 to 10. The P-3C also introduced to service the Australian Barra passive sonobuoy system, and for search and surveillance missions was equipped with an infra-red detection system. Another improvement was the capability of launching the Harpoon air-to-surface missile (ASM) up to 100km from its target.

Over its years in service the P-3C Orion has seen great advances in technology, so various avionic improvement programs have been implemented. These modifications have resulted since January 1975 in the "Upgrade" designations:

Upgrade I - increased computer memory. more sensitive acoustic processing equipment, upgraded navigation equipment.

Upgrade II - introduction of the infra-red detector set (IRDS) and provision to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon long range anti-shipping missile - the standard missile of all current RAAF Orions.

Upgrade III - improved IBM Proteus acoustic processing capability, more sensitive acoustic sensors and better Electronic Support Measures (ESM).

Upgrade IV - Boeing development of enhanced processing capability, more sensitive acoustic sensors, and better Electronic Support Measures (ESM). (The Upgrade IV program was subsequently cancelled on October 1992).

The next major decision regarding the P-3 wing at Edinburgh was whether to upgrade the older P-3B model or replace them with more P-3Cs. Fortunately the latter course was chosen, and on June 29 1982 a contract was signed for ten new P-3Cs.

The remaining P-3Bs, A9-292 to A9-298, were sold to the Portuguese Air Force, serialled 4801 to 4806, and serve as the P-3P in Esquadra 601 at Montijo.

Since February 1981 Nos 10 and 11 Squadrons, as part of No 92 Wing, have maintained continuous detachments at Air Base Butterworth, Malaysia, for maritime surveillance. Conversion to the Orion has been conducted by No 292 Squadron at Edinburgh, and since the introduction of an all P-3C force, any aircraft on the flightline can be flown by either 10, 11 or 292 Squadron crews.

A major avionics update is anticipated to keep the RAAF's Orions operational to well beyond 2010.

TECHNICAL DATA
(Lockheed P-3 Orion)

DESCRIPTION: Long range maritime patrol aircraft.

POWER PLANT: Four 4910eshp Allison T-56-A-14W turboprops.

DIMENSIONS: Wing span 30.38m (99ft 8in); length 35.61m (11ft 10in); height 10.27m (33ft 8 in).

WEIGHTS: Empty 27,892kg (61,491lb); max takeoff 64,410kg (142,000lb).

PERFORMANCE: Max speed 410kt (761 km/h); ceiling 28,300ft (8625m); ferry range 4136nm (7665km); initial climb 1950ft/min (594m/min); mission radius (three hours on station) 1345nm (2494km).

ARMAMENT: Variety of weapons in bomb bay and on hardpoints including torpedoes, mines, sonobouys and Harpoons. Total weapons load 8740kg.

Thanks to RAAF Museum

Link to the original P-3C Orion:

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?download=2415

Credits:

In association with the SFP1 Dev A-Team (capun, Gramps, Charles, Kesselbrut, The Wrench & Wehner), the Lockheed P-3C Orion.

Model work by Raptorman & capun, Textures by Raptorman & Gramps, FM by Column 5 & Charles, Screens by The Wrench & Charles

Virtual Cockpit by Kesselbrut

Thanks to RAAF Museum

Link to AP-3C texture by me:

There is no correct cockpit for the AP-3C, this model uses the B-17 cockpit (the only 4 engined U.S. cockpit available at this time).