Fare thee well Orions.

[4bee]

Well done for your 50 years service..

Three Orions (AP3C) in strict formation carried out a Flypast/Flyover today as a farewell gesture.

They are being replaced by the Poseidon so I have since discovered.


They came in very low from the city & just about touching the Telstra Towers on nearby Mount Bonython (or seemed to) & banking to the right.

I then heard them in the distance doing the rounds of the Adelaide Hills


AP-3C Orion flyover and P-8A Poseidon handling display | Royal Australian Air Force (https://www.airforce.gov.au/operations/flying-operations/ap-3c-orion-flyover-and-p-8a-poseidon-handling-display)



I wasn't aware of the occasion until I came inside but you just had to give them a wave, it would be rude not to.

[bee utey]

Yep, was outside when they flew by, less than 400m away.

[4bee]

Pondering as you do.

I wonder what will be the fate of these AC? Will they be flogged off to another International user or relegated to a big hole in the ground like the F1-11s due to some agreement made 50 years ago with the U.S. or 'gifted' to a less fortunate country like some C130s were?


We'll see.[bighmmm]

[bee utey]

Wing Commander Smith said two of the Orions had already been sent to the Australian War Memorial and the South Australian Aviation Museum, and several had been sold to an American company.

"It's not quite finished yet and there are a few more years of service in the P-3s," Wing Commander Smith said.



For Noos subscribers:

No Cookies | The Advertiser (https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-air-force-is-marking-50-years-of-the-p3-orion-with-a-lowlevel-fly-past-over-adelaide-on-friday/news-story/5141c0458915094312b8175bf40897d1)

Else:

Adelaide to farewell Orions after 50 years of rescues, military operations and searches - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/adelaide-to-farewell-p-3-orions-after-50-years-of-service/10561686)

[4bee]

Thanks Jilden, great to know they are being put to a good use in their retirement.


Will need big sheds.

[Hugh Jars]

HARS has one in flying condition [emoji846]

[4bee]

Thanks HJ, I feel better by the minute.[smilebigeye]


If any organisation can justify owning one & is capable of housing & maintaining it then HARS would have to be it.

[Hugh Jars]

Indeed, 4bee. One of my workmates is an ex-P3 driver. He’s working at HARS getting the approvals for them to fly it. Of course he’ll be one of the flight crew [emoji16]

[4bee]

Following on from the WingCos published interview.......


I recall Douglas Bader saying during one of his RAF Anniversary Air Shows Commentaries (75th I think it was ??) describing how he still couldn't come to terms with Jet Engines of the time as they mostly all sounded the same but not so with piston driven aircraft & how they all sounded so characteristically different & how one could pick them out & identify them.


Ok ok, the Orions are turbo prop, but they do have their own sound signature, unlike jets which still sound the same especially as they fly overhead.

Still, it was great to hear the 12 engines running so smoothly & probably something we will never hear the likes of again here in SA.

Pity about the possible 4th AC which didn't turn up here. 16 engines? Orgasmic to say the least.[biggrin]

[67hardtop]

Following on from the WingCos published interview.......


I recall Douglas Bader saying during one of his RAF Anniversary Air Shows Commentaries (75th I think it was ??) describing how he still couldn't come to terms with Jet Engines of the time as they mostly all sounded the same but not so with piston driven aircraft & how they all sounded so characteristically different & how one could pick them out & identify them.


Ok ok, the Orions are turbo prop, but they do have their own sound signature, unlike jets which still sound the same especially as they fly overhead.

Still, it was great to hear the 12 engines running so smoothly & probably something we will never hear the likes of again here in SA.

Pity about the possible 4th AC which didn't turn up here. 16 engines? Orgasmic to say the least.[biggrin]They flew right over my place this morning. The windows rattled. Thought i was gonna see a plane crash till i came outside and seen them

[Hugh Jars]

Gotta love those Allison engines. With a black smoke signature almost as impressive as the B-707’s [emoji23]

[4bee]

Right on, HJ. [smilebigeye]



I recall Douglas Bader saying during one of his RAF Anniversary Air Shows Commentaries (75th I think it was ??)


It was Bader, but apparently not the 75th Anni. which was in 1983. He died in Sept '82.

Must have been the 70th.


Didn't wish to distort history.[bighmmm]

[Fourgearsticks]

In the early 80's I remember seeing an Anset freight Electra going in to Cairns, they called em wombats?

[PhilipA]

I went on an Electra on my honeymoon from Brisbane to Mackay ( in 1969)where it broke down before going to Proserpine.
We then got a scenic flight on a Twatter very low over the reef, and it was great! Except where the captain pointed out where one had come in too low on a short strip.
I clearly recall that they synchronized the engines on the Electra after the climb out, and the engine notes went from much heterodyning to smooth.

Regards Philip A

[4bee]

Speaking of which, my late uncle ( would you believe his name was Doug? [smilebigeye]) was a Training Captain with Ansett & flew the first Electra into Adelaide. As it was a novel thing at the time he was given ATC Clearance to circle the Adelaide Oval a couple of times at a reasonable low level before landing at the then West Beach Airport, now Adelaide International.

A bit of pre-arranged publicity for Reg I suppose, as it also was a Grand Final game. "Eyes up".


The same bloke always had an old Astro Compass on his coffee table as a conversation piece. It certainly had me intrigued when I stayed with him in Melbourne.
He had also flown the Dakota "Bully Beef Bombers" in PNG back in WW2 & Post War had opened up a route through the Pacific for the olde BCPA (British Commonwealth Pacific Airways) flying DC6 & 6Bs via Canton Island. Google BCPA) A great bloke who tried to teach me the Morse Code but without much success I'm afraid. He & my Aunt also a licensed flyer, would speak to each other in Morse but it didn't help.
[bighmmm]


I understand the Electra was not a very sound or reliable a/c for it's time & had two fatal crashes, but it must have had a lot going for it as it later became the Orion 'Mk1' air frame I understand.


Sorry, what was the question? [biggrin]

[Hugh Jars]

Dunno about any Australian Electra losses, 4bee? At least 3 Viscounts were lost back in the day.
Although a RAAF P3 was lost off Cocos when some of the wing leading edges separated during a high speed (circa 380kt) beat up that was conducted at low level.

There were a few overseas losses as a result of ‘whirl mode flutter’, but I think the problem was fixed in service.

[4bee]

I didn't specify Oz, HJ, but 3 apparently occurred in the US or according to this report they did.


The Electra entered service in early January 1959 with US operator Eastern Airlines.
Unfortunately, three L188s were to crash with loss of life within the first 16 months of the type’s
introduction to service. The cause, called "whirlpool mode", was eventually identified as a weakness
in the engine mountings which produced excessive engine nacelle vibration, leading to wing flexing
and finally wing separation. Electras were still permitted to operate while the crashes were under
investigation, but their cruising speed was reduced to 255 kts/475kmh. After the fault had been
determined, Lockheed recalled all Electras built to that point and, at its own expense, carried out a
number of modifications including engine mount bracing and installation of additional wing
supports. Each aircraft took approximately 20 days to modify, eventually costing Lockheed a total of
some US$25 million.
Reg Ansett had visited Lockheed


I seem to vaguely remember the Viscount prangs as well.