Pictures of C-141B 64-0649 being towed out of AMARC
More ...
158227 Lockheed NP-3D Orion on the AMARC arrival ramp. Previously operated by the VX-30 based at NAS Point Mugu, CA.
First delivered to the US Navy on the 15-NOV-71, this aircraft arrived at AMARC on the 29-DEC-03 and is allocated PCN AN2P0194.
This particular aircraft was used to support base operations at Point Mugu and other bases around the world.
It's missions included radar/visual safety surveillance, telemetry data collection and retransmission, time, space and
position Information (TSPI), high resolution optical collections and general Fleet support.
During 2003 engineering evaluations determined that the US Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion fleet was suffering from significant
corrosion and fatigue and that the expected operational life of many of the aircraft was far less than previously thought.
As a result of these evaluations the US Navy decided to cut its ageing P-3 fleet by one third. During 2004 a steady flow of
various P-3 variants, mainly P-3C's, have been arriving at AMARC from the many US Navy units operating the type from their bases within
the US and abroad.
On the 14th June 2004 the Pentagon announced that it had awarded Boeing a $3.89 billion contract to develop a long-range
patrol plane based on the Boeing 737 civilian airline to replace the Navy P-3's. The proposed design will have a crew of
nine and have a weapons bay capable of launching antisubmarine torpedos, air-to-surface missiles and underwater mines.
After development it is expected that a total of 108 combat-capable aircraft will be produced which will cost approximately $20 billion.
The total cost of development, production and at least 20 years of maintenance is estimated at $44 billion.
Boeing won the contract by beating Lockheed, the original manufacturer of the P-3, with its proposal to carry out an extensive upgrade
of the P-3 fleet.
Whereas the US Navy is moving away from the P-3, another US Orion operator, the Office of Air and Marine Operations (AMO), is proposing that its
fleet of 16 P-3's goes through a service life expectancy program (SLEP). This will extend the life of their P-3A "Slick" and P-3 AEW&C "Dome" Orions
by some 20,000 hours of flight. The USCS Orions are used to maintain surveillance of the Caribbean and Central American region
between South America and the arrival zone off the U.S. coastline and borders. Eight of these aircraft, which operate at the forefront of US
counter-terrorism, anti–money laundering, weapon smuggling, and intelligence operations are themselves ex. AMARC aircraft, having been regenerated back in 1997 and 1999.
AMARC Database:
Lockheed P-3C Orion Specifications:
Engines
Manufacturer - Allison, Model - Four T56-A-14,
Max. Power per engine 3,661 kW
Propellers - Hamilton standard 54H60-77 4-blade constant speed.
Performance
Endurance - 10-13 hours
Cruise speed - 330 knots
Patrol speed - 380 km/hour
Ceiling - 27,000 feet
Maximum range, Low Altitude - 2,500 Nautical miles
Maximum range, High Altitude - 3,800 Nautical miles
Crew
Minimum flight crew - Five
Normal crew - Eleven
Maximum accomodation - Twenty one
Dimensions, External
Wingspan - 30.37 m
Overall length - 35.61 m
Height - 10.27 m
Fuselage diameter - 3.45 m
Weights
Empty weight - 27,890 kg
Maximum take-off weight - 135,000 lbs
Maximum gross weight - 139,760 lbs
Fuel
Fuel tanks - one fuselage tank, 4 integral wing tanks.
Total fuel capacity - 60,000 lbs.
Fuel consumption - 4000-5000 lbs/hour.
