Inflight200 IFP3ARG1122

Inflight200 IFP3ARG1122 replicates 1/200 scale diecast of the P-3B Orion BuNo 152746, serial number 6-P-53 of Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Exploración (Naval Air exploration Squadron), Armada de la República Argentina (Navy of the Argentine Republic: ARA), circa 2000.

Lockheed P-3 Orion

The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a land-based, four-engine turboprop anti-surface warfare (ASUW), anti-submarine (ASW) and maritime surveillance aircraft based on the L-188 Electra airliner.

It first flew on August 19, 1958, entering service in August 1962 with VP-8 and VP-44, US Navy. It has served in numerous countries for over 50 years. Japan manufactured the Orion under license.

The airframe differs from the Electra with the forward fuselage 2.1 m (7 feet) shorter, a 2.03 (6.7 ft) wide by 3.91m (12.8 ft) long bomb bay in the forward section, a modified nose radome In the rear, a fibreglass tail boom to house the magnetic anomaly detector and 48 sonobuoy launch tubes and ten underwing hardpoints. A US Navy P-3C crew typically consists of ten, including three pilots.

The Orion uses four Allison T56 turboprops mounted two on each wing, driving four-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed propellers. Once on station, up to two engines can be shut down to conserve fuel.

Armament consists of ten underwing hardpoints and eight internal stations in the bomb bay, carrying up to 9,100 kg (20,000 lb) of stores.