P-2 Neptune

Lockheed · United States · first flew 1945 · transport aircraft

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, with two radial pistons later supplemented by underwing jet pods.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Long straight wing and slender fuselage with glazed nose and MAD tail boom
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Two big radial piston engines, often with auxiliary jet pods outboard
Long straight wing and slender fuselage with glazed nose and MAD tail boom
Maritime patrol stance with bulged observation positions

A straight-winged twin-radial patrol aircraft with a long tail boom, and frequently a pair of slim jet pods slung outboard under the wings.

Specifications

The P-2 Neptune has a length of 27.9 m (92 ft).
It has a wingspan of 31.7 m (104 ft).
Its maximum speed is 586 km/h (364 mph).
Typical crew: 7-9.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1945, the Neptune entered US Navy service in 1947 and became a mainstay of Cold War submarine hunting. Later variants added two Westinghouse J34 jet pods for extra take-off and dash power.

Variants

Built through marks from the P2V-1 to the jet-augmented P2V-7, the type also served as the basis for the US Army's OP-2E and various firefighting tanker conversions.

Where you'll see it

Neptunes equipped many navies and air forces; the Royal Air Force operated Neptunes in the maritime patrol role during the 1950s before the Avro Shackleton took over the task.

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