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Also depends which version - the prototype P.1 "flat-belly", the F. Mk. 1 & F. Mk. 2 with a small ventral fuel tank, the F. Mk. 3 with the small ventral fuel tank and optional overwing fuel tank capability (also usable for weapons), the F. Mk. 6/F. Mk. 2A (originally F. Mk. 3A) with added large ventral belly tank but not carrying the overwing tanks... or the F. Mk. 6/F. Mk. 2A with the overwing tanks.
I couldn't find any photos of the F. Mk. 3 with the overwing tanks installed.
P. 1
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P. 1B
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F. Mk. 3
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F. Mk. 6
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F. Mk. 6 with tanks
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And the ONLY reason I'm being such a pedant is because it lets me post another pic of the "Frightening" in (arguably) its most attractive scheme.
Agree with (almost) everything you said...and love the pics. I was at the last Lightning airshow at Binbrook in 1987.
One minor nitpick. The airframe you label as a Lighting F.3 is actually a T.5 of the Lightning Training Flight. This is a Lightning F.3...in the most appropriate of markings:
View attachment 662235
And the ONLY reason I'm being such a pedant is because it lets me post another pic of the "Frightening" in (arguably) its most attractive scheme.
Great story but the USAF never flew the OrionI was based at RAF Ballykelly in the late 60s when we had a couple of USAF Orions visiting, a couple of Lightnings did a "beat-up" over the airfield, coming in low very fast and then rotating and climbing vertically, deafening everyone!... one of the American ground crew called the Lighting the "All Aluminum Boom Tube" .... the name stuck with me ever since.
They did, many times.Did the Navy ever deploy P-3s to England would be the obvious question. You guys may both be right.
They did, many times.
Agree - never doubted him about seeing an OrionIt follows that his story could be basically true, but with the wrong operating org.
Correction, it was the US Navy, but as it was over 50 years ago in the mid to late 60s the distinction was irrelevant to us "Limeys" at the time, especially as the "Canucks" were there with the Argus. the "Cloggies" with their Neptunes and the "Frogs" with their Atlantics, "Yanks" were just "Yanks".Great story but the USAF never flew the Orion
They did, many times.
The RAAF only recently ended a long association with the P-3, the company I worked for (Tenix) finally completed the update on the AP-3C after taking over from several companies that struggled. Luckily I was not involved with that project, I was on the C130Hs, but I did design the company badge for the project and marshal the AP-3Cs when they visited.Agree - never doubted him about seeing an Orion
I worked on the RAAF P-3 program extensively during the mid 1980s. About 40% of the aircraft was built in Canada as the result of the offset agreement when the Canadians bought the CP-140.The RAAF only recently ended a long association with the P-3, the company I worked for (Tenix) finally completed the update on the AP-3C after taking over from several companies that struggled. Luckily I was not involved with that project, I was on the C130Hs, but I did design the company badge for the project and marshal the AP-3Cs when they visited.
Where's FLYBOY J's patch?The RAAF only recently ended a long association with the P-3, the company I worked for (Tenix) finally completed the update on the AP-3C after taking over from several companies that struggled. Luckily I was not involved with that project, I was on the C130Hs, but I did design the company badge for the project and marshal the AP-3Cs when they visited.
CAC, then HdeHV, and Tenix (all the same factory, we kept getting bought out) only did mods and updates on the P-3s in Australia, I was not involved apart from inspection of minor components and assemblies, plus I did ground handling when they visited the Tenix hangar at Melbourne Tullamarine airport.I worked on the RAAF P-3 program extensively during the mid 1980s. About 40% of the aircraft was built in Canada as the result of the offset agreement when the Canadians bought the CP-140.