Orion replacment anounced

[Yeager]

No doubt the forest service fire fighters are drueling....

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by storch
If anything the loiter time will be increased, think of all the fuel ord. and electronic detectors you can load when you don't have all those way over the 170lb FAA standard people on board.

You're probably right, I shouldn't admit this, but the reason I was wondering (and this is totaly irrelevant, but only what sparked the thought) was from playing Harpoon '97 on the train this week and noticing that my IL-38 could patrol for about 3 times as long as my IL-76 AWAC plane.

I meant to look it up to see if it was a feature or a bug, but then forgot about it until this topic came up.

Again, it's a total apples/oranges thing I know.

-Sik

[Dnil]

I thought they were worried about corrosion on the fan blades from being low in the salt air....guess they fixed it...or got enough money to look past it.

[Otto]

P-3's have been operating from Willow Grove for about 25 years. From the 'A' models to the 'C'.   I don't know how you could find a better patrol aircraft.  Unless the frames are wearing out, I don't see the need for a replacement.

[Pongo]

Sikboy..thats why I asked how many harpoons it will carry..Loved the 4 harpoon load out in Harpoon II.
Will the F18 E be able to carry 6 Harpoons?
drool.

[Charon]

One senator likely just managed to beat another one's bellybutton at the pork game. The write ups seemed to suggst the improved P-3 airframe (heavily revised and new construction) was more practical. Who knows. Turbofans work good for the Brits and the Viking, as pointed out.

Charon

[Wolfala]

Never seen a BUFF with AIM-9's eh?

[chance-airwolf]

quote:
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Originally posted by Otto
P-3's have been operating from Willow Grove for about 25 years. From the 'A' models to the 'C'. I don't know how you could find a better patrol aircraft. Unless the frames are wearing out, I don't see the need for a replacement.
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Yeah, the plan was to replace a few frames...  Rumor was that LockMart was the intended winner up until the last minute... wonder what really went down with the source selection committee.  

Chance2