Design
A P-Three Orion is according to a Lockheed L-188 Electra. A number one production version, intended P3V-One, 1st flew 15 April 1961, but per instance a foremost deliveries were processed within 1962, a unified designation models manufactured this the P-Three.

Across a years, numerous variants use at times been developed.

A P-Three Orion has detected favorite have as an globe-science suborbital locate platform for NASA. Called callsign NASA 426, this aircraft is placed at Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Island Flight Facility, Virginia.

A P-Three is slated for replacement between 2010-2013 by the Boeing MMA, based upon their 737 civilian aircraft. Australia is considering two the MMA & a navalized version of the Global Hawk as a replacement.

Variants
P-3A: original production version; 157 built P-3A (CS): quadruplet using better radar, for US Customs EP-3A: septet modified for electronic reconnaissance testing NP-3A: trine modified for US Naval Research Laboratory RP-3A: ii modified for scientific utilizes, for Oceanographic Development Squadron at NAS Patuxent River TP-3A: Xii modified for step by step videos, ASW gear removed Higher-3A: 38 utilized when utility transports, ASW gear removed VP-3A: leash WP-3As & ii P-3As converted into VIP/staff transports WP-3A: quaternion converted for weather reconnaissance P-3B EP-3B NP-3B P-3C Upgrade I Upgrade II Upgrade Deuce.5 Upgrade III Upgrade IV: AIP(Me)/UIP(RNoAF) AP-3C update (Royal Australian Air Inflict) EP-3C NP-3C RP-3C Higher-3C RP-3D WP-3D: two modified for NOAA weather research, including hurricane hunting EP-3E Aries EP-3E Aries II NP-3E P-3F P-3G P-3H EP-3J''': 2 modified from either P-3A's for FEWSG use P-3K: 5 aircraft originally of P3B standard however subsquently updated, delivered to New Zealand in 1965-67, replacing Short Sunderlands. A original P3Ks come operated by No. 5 Squadron RNZAF from Whenuapai, Auckland together with a P3B purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force and brought up to P3K standard. the aircraft were recently re-winged & come undergoing a farther around of avionics & sensing element updates around 2005. P-3N: 2 P-3B modified for coastguard missions for the RNoAF P-3P P-3W P-3AEW&C CP-140 Aurora CP-140A Arcturus

Specifications (P-3 Orion)
General characteristics
Crew: 11 Length: 116.58 foot (35.57 m) Wingspread: 99.L foot (Xxx.36 m) Height: 33.58 foot (Ten.Twenty-seven m) Wing locality: 1300 foot² (Long hundred.Ogdoad m²) Empty: 61,500 pound (27,900 kilo) Loaded: Maximal takeoff: 139,800 pound (63,400 kilogram) Powerplant: Foursome × Allison T56-A-14 turboprops, 4,900 hp (3,700 kW)

Performance
Maximal speed: 466 mph (745 kph) Combat range: 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometer) Ferry range: 5,600 miles (9,000 klick) Combat ceiling: 28,300 foot (8,600 m) Rate of climb: 3,140 ft/min (957 m/min)

For sub-antarctic missions, a RNZAF shut down an engine once cruising altitude has been acheived to extend a range by conserving fuel.

Armament
Bombs: 20,000 pound (9,000 kilogram) Missiles: AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-65 Maverick More: MK-46, MK-50 torpedoes, Mines, Depth charges