The Lockheed P-3 Orion was designed as a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based its basic design on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or "MAD Boom", used for the magnetic detection of submarines. Over the years, the aircraft has seen numerous design advancements, most notably to its electronics packages. Many variants were developed, internally systems continiously being upgraded.
The P-3 Orion is still in use by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. Over of 700 P-3s have been built, and many sold abroad to countries like Persia during the Sjah regime, Japan, Australia.
For Canada the CP-140 Aurora was developed that used many systems of the S-3 Viking.
P-3C Orion MLD 
The P-3C Orion was also used by the Royal Dutch Navy air wing "Marine Luchtvaart Dienst" (MLD). Used for maritime patrol duties replacing Neptune SP-2H. Ordered December 1978.
13 aircraft P-3C Update II, delivered to Netherlands 21 July 1982 to 12 October 1984.
Training in USA from 5 November 1981 to July 1982.
Serials 300 to 312. Used by 320/321 sqns and 2 MOTU.
Modernized to CUP starting 2002 but all sold 2005 to Germany and Portugal.
This aircraft of the MLD (Marine luchtvaart dienst) has no. "302" and was seen at RAF Fairford Air Tattoo show.
Photographed 1993 by Bas Damen, (c) copyright
P-3C Orion MLD Details
Here some details of a P-3C aircraft of the MLD (Marine luchtvaart dienst) are shown. Mostly of the lower sides as seen in a hangar at the Valkenburg home base in The Netherlands.
Photographed 1980s by Bas Damen, (c) copyright
P-3C MLD (Dutch naval air service)
The Orions started with the colour scheme of Dark Sea Grey and Sky (lower surfaces), see walk around foto's above. But MLD Orions were later painted in an overall Gull Grey scheme FS36440. The pictures here show the plane in this overall grey scheme and pictures were taken in 2006 at the Hato Airfield at the Dutch Antilles island of Curaçao.
P-3C Orion, number "305" , serial 161373 at Hato, Curaçao
Photographed 2007 by George Davelaar, (c) copyright
CP-140 Aurora
The CP-140 Aurora is a maritime patrol aircraft was developed based on the P-3 for the Canadian Armed Forces. The aircraft looks very similar but has systems of the Lockheed S-3 Viking. This aircraft ser.no 140109 was delivered October 1980. It was seen at RAF Fairford Air Tattoo show (parked next to the Dutch P-3C shown above).
Photographed 1993 by Bas Damen, (c) copyright
Various scale models exist of the P-3 Orion. Old kits in odd scales were from Revell and Monogram. Arii had a 1/144 kit as well as LS. In 1/72 there is only a Hasegawa P-3 kit that was released over the years in several boxes and small changes also by Minicraft. For a CP-140 a conversion set was also available from Flight Colours.
This walk around page was originally created March 2012 by M. de Vreeze