Inflight200 IFP3RNZAF12

Inflight200 IFP3RNZAF12 replicates 1/200 scale diecast of the P-3K Orion Serial Number NZ4203 of No.5 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) stationed at RNZAF Base Whenuapai, Auckland, circa the late 1980s. NZ4203 has been retired to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch.

The P-3K variant: five P-3Bs upgraded for the RNZAF.

No.5 Sqn, RNZAF

No.5 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is tasked with maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. Formed in November 1941 and currently operates the P-8A Posiden from RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Over the squadron’s lifetime, it has operated the following aircraft:

• Vincents 1941-42
• Short Singapore 3 1941-42
• Catalina July 1944-45
• Catalina November 1947-53
• Sunderland June 1953-67
• Orion March 1965-2022
• P-8A Poseidon 2023-

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 a shortened forward fuselage, a bomb bay, a tail boom with a magnetic anomaly detector, sonobuoy launch tubes and 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.