Mastercraft Collection Lockheed P-3C Orion (Hi-Vis) Model Scale:1/85

• About this item.
• Scale: 1/85 Handcrafted by a series of master craftsmen using only the highest grade materials Each product is identical to the plane’s original blueprint Truly a fusion of art and history, a museum quality masterpiece unmatched by another model producing company on earth The perfect gift for any aviation enthusiast, history buff, personnel, or collector.

Product Description ------------------- What made the Lockheed P-3 Orion unique among other U.S. Navy aircraft was its MAD Boom—the unique tail stinger that magnetically detects submarines. The first production version of this maritime surveillance aircraft with four turboprop engines was introduced in April 15, 1961. Over the years, it saw numerous design upgrades, especially to its electronic packages. In 1969, Lockheed came up with the definitive version of the P-3—the P-3C Orion, which was equipped with modern APS-115 radar system. This model was involved in several operations, including the Operation Iraqi Freedom, Desert Storm, and Operation Desert Shield. This aircraft served the Royal Australian Air Force, German Navy, Republic of China Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Despite this huge number of and civilian operators, the US Navy remains to be the largest operator of the P3C Orion. From the Manufacturer --------------------- The P-3 Orion is an American aircraft used for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare manufactured by Lockheed. The P-3 Orion was originally designated as P3V based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra and served as replacement for the postwar era P-2 Neptune. The first production version of the P-3 was designated as P-3V-1 and its maiden flight was on April 15, 1961. Many variants of the P-3 Orion was developed. The Orion has four turboprops, giving it a speed comparable to fast propeller powered fighters and slow turbofan jets such as the A-10. The P-3 was also designed to compete with the British Nimrod. It has an internal bomb bay under the front fuselage and underwing stations, carrying missiles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon, having a long stinger in the tail which houses the magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and convex windows for observation. The primary users and operators of the P-3 Orion are the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Korea Navy. Civilian agencies also operates a number of P-3s and have been N-registered.