Posted on 01/16/2011 11:36:30 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Navy took delivery in January of 10 newly configured P-3C Orions installed with an upgraded acoustic system — the Acoustic Receiver Technology Refresh (ARTR) — that enhances the aircraft’s ability tenfold to receive and analyze sonobuoy data, a basic P-3C mission requirement.
The upgrades will help bridge the technology gap between the Orion and the service’s next generation maritime patrol and anti-sub warfare (ASW) aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, creating a more common and efficient fleet.
The Navy also is establishing common signal processing code and hardware for the two fleets.
The acoustic technology upgrades are vital for the fleet, Navy program officials say, as the service moves toward a higher-altitude ASW mission mind-set. At higher altitudes, the aircraft can operate more efficiently and track more targets.
The P-8As are on schedule, program officials say, to meet initial operational capability in 2013. The Navy still plans to buy a total of 117 Poseidons, with an estimated flyaway cost of about $150 million per aircraft.
(Excerpt) Read more at aviationweek.com ...
I worked on the Air Force Version of the P3 which is the E3C. Great job!
What poo.
It certainly wasn't the shooters who came up with this - rather probably the yahoos who want pure jets and of course those puppies have to stay high or fly in company with a tanker.
In the MAP role they can see more targets up high, sure, but then they have to RIG the contacts so, what - yo-yoing up and down? Pfffft.
For the ASW role I got news - subs no longer travel in packs. There's only one, or maybe two (although we never tracked a pair together). A sonobouy fence is only so long - and when it comes time to prosecute you need to be low enough to pull the trigger on the guy.
PLUS, you need to be able to drop *ahem* certain bouys at precise locations to refine the plot.
Sure, the crews won't mind getting on and off station at 737 speeds - but getting the job done will suffer, IMNSHO.
My hubby is an ex-sub hunter. They are the best! ;-)
Hubby just asked me to add that you don’t have the same engine control with a jet that you have with the Orion anyway. He said that he has intentionally flown with one engine at times in order to stay on station longer.
(Of course...that was some years ago.)
Click on pic for past Navair pings.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
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This is a medium to low volume pinglist.
Well, sure... standard ops is to shut down one and four once you get light enough for longer loiter times.
Never ran single-engine in West Pac - I think they didn't approve of that there.
Course, when you only have two engines...
“Never ran single-engine in West Pac ...”
Hubby is trying to be funny here and he says....That’s ‘cause you weren’t daring enough. He loitered at 15,000 ft. with one engine....making sure to keep the APU running. ;-))
Besides, that's not loitering - that's hovering!
“Besides, that’s not loitering - that’s hovering!”
I have NO idea what this means but he says (while smiling),
“This gets me to PLE.”
He asks if you have ever tried *drift-down procedures?*
Glad that old bird is still flying. Worked many years on that platform, RDT&E.
Now THAT does not surprise me.
Whatever prompted it must have been a mission I'm sure he's not at liberty to discuss.
“Whatever prompted it must have been a mission I’m sure he’s not at liberty to discuss.”
He said it was a life or death situation. :-O
To be fair here, you need to understand that my hubby started out in the P-2.....and I very much remember the transition to the P-3. It came after one of his 6-month tours in Vietnam. He had just gotten home...and was there approximately a week...before he had to leave again to go through the transition at Moffett Field.
And all of this posting back and forth has started him telling me MORE of his stories....though I’ve heard a lot of them whenever he gets together with other pilots. ;-)))
Well, my salute to hubby for his service, and to you for supporting him through all those long deployments.
Just don't ask him about Cubi Point - you might get more than you bargained for!
“My, my, my... showing our age.”
Lol! Age ....and (hopefully)some wisdom!
He says, “Yep....back when aviators were AVIATORS and knew their planes and flew them to their maximum capacity!”
He also quipped, “the more the Navy *progressed* (indirect pun intended) the more it became a bit like government....and wanted more and more CONTROL of everything.”
And....I’ve pretty much heard all about the Philippines too! ;-D
Yea we had Mag drives on the AWACS! They were heavy beasts! Took four guys to carry up the stand to the A/V....
Maintained and was aircrew on the EP-3E version back in the 70s. Always felt safe in that plane.
Recently I saw a program about P2V Firebombers in Montana. I was surprised to see that the engine controls were “overhead” as in the old flying boats. I guess this must have been some sort of tradition at BuAer back in the day. Wondering if even the P-3s are still rigged that way?
Now if I only knew how to make things like this a hot link.
Short answer, no. Power levers are on a center console.
The overhead is full of engine instruments. Flight engineer territory.
Probably pictures of that, too, around somewhere. Dozens in my cruise albums.
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