P-3 Orion

Lockheed · United States · first flew 1959 · transport aircraft

The P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft developed from the Lockheed L-188 Electra airliner, one of the most enduring patrol types in history.

Recognition (WEFT)

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

Spot it by:

• Low straight wing with four turboprops
• Magnetic anomaly detector boom spiking from the tail
• Electra-derived airliner fuselage

Look for the low straight wing with four turboprops on a slim airliner-style fuselage. The long magnetic anomaly detector boom projecting aft from the tail is the unmistakable maritime-patrol signature.

Specifications

• The P-3 Orion has a length of 35.6 m (117 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 30.4 m (100 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 761 km/h (473 mph).
• Typical crew: 11 (flight and mission crew).

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

History

Lockheed derived the Orion from the Electra, with the prototype flying in November 1959 and the type entering US Navy service in 1962. It was built in large numbers and served for over half a century.

Variants

The definitive P-3C introduced advanced sensors and was repeatedly updated, while specialised versions include the EP-3 electronic-intelligence aircraft and various export and weather-research conversions.

Where you'll see it

The P-3 is not an RAF type, the UK having flown the Nimrod in the same role, but Orions of allied navies regularly operate from and visit British bases. They have appeared at UK airshows over many decades.

Related aircraft

• C-130E Hercules
• L-188 Electra
• C-141 Starlifter
• Lockheed C-141A Starlifter
• Boeing VC-137C
• Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan
• Hiller X-18
• Howard 500

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