L-285D ORION AP-3C*
RAAF MSN BU NO DEL RAAF TYPE PRE DEL

A9-751 5657 160751 17FEB78 AP-3C LO-180 .
25MAY78 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-752 5658 160752 28MAR78 AP-3C LO-180 .
29JUN78 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-753 5660 160753 22MAY78 AP-3C LO-180 .
.
A9-754 5662 160754 27MAY78 P-3C LO-180 .

26APR91 Ditched at Cocos Islands.
Although some components were salvaged, most of the aircraft was dumped at sea.
The nose section was still present at Cocos in 1992 (see Photo #4) and it is reported that one of the propellors is displayed in a Cocos Islands museum. Refer Report from Cocos. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Historical Society have erected a memorial to Flying Officer Thomas Henniker, the crew member who died in the crash of A9-754
An Orion fin/rudder is displayed outside the 92 Wing HQ at RAAF Edinburgh. Despite earlier speculation that it had come from the parted-out P-3B 152760, it has now been established that it came from P-3C A9-754.
A9-755 5664 160755 07AUG78 AP-3C LO-180 .
18AUG78 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-756 5666 160756 01SEP78 AP-3C LO-180 .
.
A9-757 5668 160757 03OCT78 AP-3C LO-180 .
07NOV78 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-758 5672 160758 27NOV78 AP-3C LO-185 .
.
A9-759 5674 160759 21DEC78 AP-3C LO-185 .
First production AP-3C converted by Boeing at Avalon, VIC.
A9-760 5676 160760 16JAN79 AP-3C LO-185 .
16JAN79 Arrived Edinburgh
First AP-3C conversion by Raytheon E-Systems, Greenville, Texas.
JUL02 The first AP-3C to enter RAAF service.
A9-656 5778 162656 09OCT84 AP-3C LO-220 N64854
07DEC84 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-657 5780 162657 27FEB85 AP-3C LO-220 N64911
.
A9-658 5782 162658 12JUL85 AP-3C LO-220 N4009K
AUG85 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-659 5784 162659 24JUL85 AP-3C LO-220 N64996
AUG85 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-660 5785 162660 07SEP85 AP-3C LO-225 N64854
SEP85 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-661 5787 162661 17OCT85 P-3C LO-225 N64911
OCT85 Arrived Edinburgh
This aircraft is the only P-3C (apart from the written-off A9-754) not converted to AP-3C status. It is retained for trials purposes and is not subject to normal tasking.
A9-662 5789 162662 20NOV85 AP-3C LO-225 N64996
.
A9-663 5791 162663 20DEC85 AP-3C LO-225 N4009K
FEB86 Arrived Edinburgh
A9-664 5793 162664 30APR86 AP-3C LO-225 N64854
.
A9-665 5795 162665 28MAY86 AP-3C LO-225 N4009H
15NOV86 Commissioned at Edinburgh


NOTES P-3C
1
 The P-3C MSNs have been confirmed by RAAF sources.
RAAF document AAP 7215.001-2-1 dated 1983 confirms the MSN, BU NO and Block Numbers assigned to A9-751 to A9-760 (incl) in the above table.
2
 All surviving P-3C are currently assigned to 92 Wing, RAAF Edinburgh, SA.
3
 A9-656 to A9-665 were also known in RAAF service as the P-3W to differentitate between aircraft built in 1978/9 (A9-751 to A9-760) and those built in 1984/5 (A9-656 to A9-665). Lockheed referred to these aircraft as "original delivery" and "follow-on" respectively.
4
 All surviving P-3C, with the exception of A9-661, underwent a modernisation programme after which they were redesignated as AP-3C [A=Australia].
5
 It was announced on 15MAR05 (ADF Press Release 043/2005) that "The full fleet of 18 upgraded AP-3C Orions have been successfully delivered." Australian National Audit Office Report No. 10 (2005-2006) states that "One of the 19 aircraft is used for development purposes and was not included in the Upgrade Project." This same report also states that the first AP-3C was accepted into service in July 2002 and the final (18th) aircraft was accepted in December 2004. It subsequently emerged that the unconverted development aircraft is A9-661.
6
 There have been reports that one or two P-3Cs have an ELINT capability, but it is now understood that all AP-3C aircraft have such a capability with the fitment of a limited number of ELINT kits which are moved about the fleet as required. A report in "Flight International" of 04OCT05 refers to "18 maritime surveillance and one electronic intelligence-gathering aircraft." It is probably no coincidence that all of the Orions now carry miniscule serial numbers adjacent to the rear crew door. The "last three" of the serial appears in larger digits inside the NLG doors.
7
 A U.S. Navy structural repair manual dated 29 August 1977 states that the first 10 P-3C for the RAAF were to have been given the serials A9-001 to A9-010. This numbering system was evidently abandoned as the aircraft were delivered bearing serials derived from the last three digits of the Bu No. MSNs and Bu Nos listed in this manual correspond with the above table in respect of the first seven aircraft A9-751 to A9-757 but the subsequent three aircraft, A9-758 to A9-760, differ. Given that these three aircraft were delivered more than one year after the publication of the manual, there had evidently been changes on the production line.

 

* A Note on P-3C Block Numbers

Block Numbers were generally issued only to aircraft built specifically for the United States Navy. However, it is common for aircraft of foreign customers to assume the Block Number of USN aircraft which were on the assembly line at the same time. Lockheed and the USN discontinued the use of Block Numbers after 200 because they were not sufficiently specific to represent configuration accurately enough for maintenance, so the USN went to more precise configuration listings of specific aircraft and mods. Nevertheless, Block Numbers higher than 200 were used by several customers, including the RAAF, and indeed there is photographic proof of their use on USN aircraft. It is believed that these Block Numbers were contrived locally for continuity purposes.



Camera icon is linked to a photo.



Issue Date Remarks
5 18JUN08
Added a link to a website describing the memorial to Flying Officer Thomas Henniker who died in the crash of A9-754.
4 06JUN08
It is understood that the unconverted development aircraft is A9-661. The matter of ELINT capabilities has been further clarified.
3 07JAN06
Attempted to further clarify the complicated matter of Block Numbers.
2 10NOV05
Refer to Note 7 above. The document referred to was supplied by Marco Borst of the Orion Research Group. Thanks Marco.
1 11OCT05
Previously, all Orions were presented on the one page. Effective from this date, there are separate pages for each type, P-3B, TAP-3B and P-3C. If required, the previous summary of updates can be viewed here.



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