My dad served with VP6 as an AMS in the early 70s. To this day he absolutely loves this aircraft. I'm so proud of him. I'd love to find some of his old squadron mates. He always says he has never had friends like he had in the Navy
P-3A/B, B Mod, CUII, CUIII Sensor 1 here. '75-'95. Also did my fair share of PMCFs over the years, even as a Chief. Even today, I still could go from bulkheads 288 to 1173 with my eyes closed and know exactly where I am the whole time. I might forget where I left my keys this morning, but I can still tell you who gets in which raft and what they bring! Some of my best memories are from my days at Moffett Field. Good times for sure. What I thought was funny was all those years of getting the "Dub" cracks from the FEs, and after I retired, the Navy went and made all Aircrew AWs! Ha!
In 1969 I was stationed at NAVSTA Adak and needed to get home because of a medical emergency. The search and destroy squadron flying P-3's was kind enough to let me hitch a ride to San Jose, CA with them. Enjoyed the ride.
John Logiudice Thanks!! I’ll have to try to dig up some of the others I have from that trip. Got one somewhere of another FCF that ended in a 3-engine landing (view from up front as well as the aft observer window)
P3-C IFT VP-49, Jax, Kef, Sig and all points in between including mini-det to Ascension Island south Atlantic for a month during Angola. Remember that? Loved it and would go again in a heartbeat if they'd have me. Great airplane!
8251 13 years. Retired 1992. Functional checks in Kef. in the winter were tough. You had to do it in the daylight, and there wasn't much of that. Did some damage to the ear, nose plumbing by doing a funx-ex with a cold and pressure checks too fast.
I was driving around the shuttered BNAS this morning. Miss it so much! Fly Navy and get it right. Good old Doc Bones from VP-44 was a great pitcher on our team.
When I left the AD Army and reenlisted after 9/11, had I known flight engineer was an MOS in the Navy for enlisted personnel I would have jumped on it. I'm an aviation aficionado and this seems like an enlisted person's dream job. Hind sight.....always 20/20.
@@adamwelsh7567 amazing man. I opted for the Army Infantry even though my Dad was a Senior Chief with 28 years under his belt by the time he retired. I grew up around Naval Aviation my whole life. Just love seeing this stuff. Keep doing good things, man.
……loved the ‘Leckies’. Flight duration interstate was as fast as Boeing 727. Those powerful Allison prop-jets’ set my heart a flutter! Fond memories’ of a fantastic aircraft……
went to pcola a/c school in 88, retired in 2005... had a few bubbas doing the p3 FE track. not an easy school or job with those 18 hour days.... first one on the a/c & last one to leave. I almost applied for the E3A FE school, but oklahoma didn’t seem like a nice place to spend 50% of my career
Sweet - was a 7873 for most of my career, but qualified 7861 (to steal flight-time while on shore-duty)... grew up outside NAS Moffett Field and wanted to be a P-3CIII AW, but got "forced" into helicopters due to swimming skills.
If the PPC is OK with it, you can have a 3rd set of eyes in the flight station during T/O and Landing. Remember: The FE's eyes are always inside. Here, the guy standing in the back was the Observer. Minimum Crew is 4, because the Observer has everything aft of the Flight Station. If you notice at 2:46, the PPC sets Condition 4 (Aircraft Integrity Check). The Observer puts his hardhat on and goes throughout the aircraft. He checks the Hydraulic Service Center, the Main Electrical Load Center, and inspecting internal and external areas for any anomalies. He reports to the Pilot (Left Seat) and the FE and, if all is good, Condition 3 (In-Flight Equipment Test if it is an operational mission) or 2 (non-tactical flight) is set. Hope that helps.
When I retired in '86 (P-3A,B,C, & P AW), we had completely transitioned to the green flight suits. Who are these guys flying the khaki flight suits 7 years ago? Di they come back after I retired? Loved takeoffs and landings on the radar cabinet.
Desert flight suits. We deployed to a site that was in the desert region but got sent somewhere else due to tasking. A lot of us only had desert flight suits when this fcf took place so we made due with what we had.
@@adamwelsh7567 Thanks for the clarification, Adam. Lots of time taxiing in butt-deep snow with the entire crew in the cockpit because of ice on the taxiway, but never made it to the desert. I assume that was SS2 on the camera.
Completely different aircraft. The C-2 was designed to and lands on aircraft carriers routinely, while the P3, though capable in emergencies, does not normally find itself in such a situation.
Engine speed increases causing the props to change their pitch in order to maintain 100% (on-speed). Only time the prop speed would be different is on the ground when operating in low rpm vs normal rpm
Gene Nix .... AT2 ..... Radio and In-flight Tech. VP-9 .... Golden Eagles..... 1974-1977. Flew on the P-3 A, P-3 B, and the new P-3 C, I was crew 11 .... we were known as the Wombats. What I wouldn't give to hear those engines one more time. This new P-8 looks like it might be a great plane. However ..... let's think about this: Can it fly with two engines feathered, can it remain on station for 14+ hours, can it land in the Philippines and allow a group of sailors to get their "Mumbles" initiation, can you put a drunk flight engineer in the back bunk to sober up, can you throw the bird to Russia ships as you take pictures of them, can it run like Hell when Russia Migs are launched from a "Parpo" that got a little to close, can the radio operator spill the honey bucket on a full bird air force officer after a 14 hour flight, can you trick a new Ensign navigator to run around your plane with a sonobuoy telling him you are preflighting the radar, can it listen to skyking messages until your radio operator has lost all sense of hearing, can you bring back a load of furniture from Taiwan and Thailand in the plane so your wife will accept that this is the reason you got the Gono in Korea, can you put out a fire in the main electrical load center on a flight from Diego Garcia to Thailand, can you send a "Mayday" message to anybody that will listen that you are on fire and you can't get engine four back on line because it's on fire, can you ride a baht bus without dying, can you eat camel blood soup in Iran to keep from offending these people ..... I think not. Love my P-3's .... Love my VP-9 .... Love that life and the man it made out of this 19 year old radio operator. Shout out to Chief Rainbow .... good friend that showed me the town in Thailand. AT-2 Gene Nix ... VP-9. 1974-1977. Crew 11, the Wombats. Got my manhood played with many times around a table as my crew would party. Girl under the table .... whoever smiled would buy the next round of Sam Miguel. Got shot at by VC gun boats, locked on by Russia ships, launched on by Migs, almost ditched from a fire .... but I'd do it again. Love my P-3 and love the new P-8.
Damn, stop it! You're making me cry! So many of the same memories! No camel blood soup, but I did have a few warm San Miguels. Painted label, of course. But not at VP Alley, where they were always ice cold! Jeepneys out to Marilyn's, "home of the best you-know-whats in the world". On the plane, 2 things you could count on: The PPC loitering 1 and 4 while buzzing around ONSTA below 500 ft so the buoy drops would be more accurate; and our honey bucket never got used. Ever. Even in those 2nd and 3rd weeks after arriving in Cubi, while your body adjusted. We did learn how to alleviate a full urinal by using the Rainbow Lifeguard and the Pyrotechnic Pistol Port (the P-3's P3!). My Ordie loved taking the SLCs out of the internal P chute and unscrewing the CAD, then pointing the SLC at SS 1&2 and blowing the cordite smoke in our faces. One year in Kadena, we flew without an EDC on #3 for 2 weeks. The tube was so hot we flew in t-shirts, shorts, boots, LPAs, and doo rags. The SDRs at 1 & 2 got so hot you'd burn your arm leaning on them. But the avionics never crapped out, until we got the EDC in and froze our asses off for two days and everything went Tango Uniform. Had Ivan popping flares at us while doing a full rig on him, flew RADAR run-ins at 100 ft in zero zero without offsetting because the PPC was concerned we wouldn't see targets if we did. But, R&R in Pattaya Beach was nice!
That was a spare pilot most likely. 6 years I flew P-3's as flight engineer. Someone was always standing behind or sitting on the circuit breaker panel.
My dad served with VP6 as an AMS in the early 70s. To this day he absolutely loves this aircraft. I'm so proud of him. I'd love to find some of his old squadron mates. He always says he has never had friends like he had in the Navy
Takes me back to my VP-11 days in Brunswick Maine in the late 80’s. Shout out to the best times of my life!
VP-10 Brunswick late 80's. Concur on the best time of my life!
P-3A/B, B Mod, CUII, CUIII Sensor 1 here. '75-'95. Also did my fair share of PMCFs over the years, even as a Chief. Even today, I still could go from bulkheads 288 to 1173 with my eyes closed and know exactly where I am the whole time. I might forget where I left my keys this morning, but I can still tell you who gets in which raft and what they bring!
Some of my best memories are from my days at Moffett Field. Good times for sure.
What I thought was funny was all those years of getting the "Dub" cracks from the FEs, and after I retired, the Navy went and made all Aircrew AWs! Ha!
Engineer for 10 years from 1982 - 1992, could do it right now. Miss it.
NASCC? USCS-SSC?
Are you Aussie David?
In 1969 I was stationed at NAVSTA Adak and needed to get home because of a medical emergency. The search and destroy squadron flying P-3's was kind enough to let me hitch a ride to San Jose, CA with them. Enjoyed the ride.
I was there in 69 also, Supply dept AK
AD here. NS Adak, Misawa Japan, Jacksonville, VP-90. Love the T56! Love those C-130's too!
I was an AD2 in VP-90, 1990 to 1994 when she was decommissioned, was a great Squadron.
Australian p3c tactical crewman, 1985-1991. Loved the sound, smell and vibration!
Even today hearing those big motors shift from low to normal rpm makes my heart beat faster.
Absolutely AWESOME!!!!! Love this video !!!!Thanks for sharing!!!!
I was stationed in the CPW-5 TSC from 77-late 79. Those engines were music to me.
The P-3 crews are an unsung hero of the Cold War. Their countless patrols helped keep us and NATO safe. A great aircraft!!!
Great video! I love the point of view it's shot from! 8251 for life! You really made me miss that center seat big time!!!
John Logiudice Thanks!! I’ll have to try to dig up some of the others I have from that trip. Got one somewhere of another FCF that ended in a 3-engine landing (view from up front as well as the aft observer window)
P3-C IFT VP-49, Jax, Kef, Sig and all points in between including mini-det to Ascension Island south Atlantic for a month during Angola. Remember that? Loved it and would go again in a heartbeat if they'd have me. Great airplane!
I was a Charlie Baseline IFT in VP-40 from 78-83 and VP-65 from 88-93, No belter job in the Navy!
8251 13 years. Retired 1992. Functional checks in Kef. in the winter were tough. You had to do it in the daylight, and there wasn't much of that. Did some damage to the ear, nose plumbing by doing a funx-ex with a cold and pressure checks too fast.
Got to go on several Sosex flights out of Adak 74-75. I'll never forget the C sharp pitch of the Allisons.
All business. Nice job boys. 5,000 hrs in A’s and B’s. Loved it & miss it so much.
I've over 5,000 hrs flying the Orion. Loved every minute of it. Never did a true VP squadron though.
VQ?
Scotty Catman hmm maybe pine needles is lying 🤥
It’s a true joy to watch professionals work
I was driving around the shuttered BNAS this morning. Miss it so much! Fly Navy and get it right. Good old Doc Bones from VP-44 was a great pitcher on our team.
When I left the AD Army and reenlisted after 9/11, had I known flight engineer was an MOS in the Navy for enlisted personnel I would have jumped on it. I'm an aviation aficionado and this seems like an enlisted person's dream job. Hind sight.....always 20/20.
Best job ever! Was a P-3 engineer for 15 yrs, now an engineer on a different platform. At it for 19 yrs total so far.
@@adamwelsh7567 amazing man. I opted for the Army Infantry even though my Dad was a Senior Chief with 28 years under his belt by the time he retired. I grew up around Naval Aviation my whole life. Just love seeing this stuff. Keep doing good things, man.
I enjoyed that aircraft as the Electra.
……loved the ‘Leckies’. Flight duration interstate was as fast as Boeing 727. Those powerful Allison prop-jets’ set my heart a flutter! Fond memories’ of a fantastic aircraft……
I was station with VP-16 NAS Jacksonville, Fla. 1980-84 Great Aircraft many hours and days/nights around them.
Love to see confident fe sitting posture
Where the G1 USN leather jackets issue to the pilot and crew at that time?
VP-40 alum 01-06. Great video!
I was in VP-40 when they were flying the SP-5B Martin Marlin seaplane (65-67) deployed to Camn Ranh Bay and Da Nang in South Viet-Nam.
went to pcola a/c school in 88, retired in 2005... had a few bubbas doing the p3 FE track. not an easy school or job with those 18 hour days.... first one on the a/c & last one to leave. I almost applied for the E3A FE school, but oklahoma didn’t seem like a nice place to spend 50% of my career
Would like to puchase a cap exactly like the one the AC is wearing.
As a QAR in VP-4, I would put together functional check flight checklists together.
VP-4 77-80,SS1/2 Crews 11 & 9... Skinny Dragons!!
Vp-4 skinny dragons.. nas barbers point Hawaii 96-2000
Gosh I miss those days...!
Very cool
The bird I dreamed of flying as a kid had I joined the Navy.
Sweet - was a 7873 for most of my career, but qualified 7861 (to steal flight-time while on shore-duty)... grew up outside NAS Moffett Field and wanted to be a P-3CIII AW, but got "forced" into helicopters due to swimming skills.
1970 to 1984 P-3.VP-10,VP-31,VP22.PMTC Pt. Mugu. 10,000 Flight hours. NO 8251 is not an active nec. Sad!
No grease on that landing but I do miss the greatest aircraft!!!
Corky Miller now they for a 737 Military variant
Scrub last thought he was copilot the way it was filmed still someone standind in cockpit during take off and land do they allow that now?
If the PPC is OK with it, you can have a 3rd set of eyes in the flight station during T/O and Landing. Remember: The FE's eyes are always inside. Here, the guy standing in the back was the Observer. Minimum Crew is 4, because the Observer has everything aft of the Flight Station. If you notice at 2:46, the PPC sets Condition 4 (Aircraft Integrity Check). The Observer puts his hardhat on and goes throughout the aircraft. He checks the Hydraulic Service Center, the Main Electrical Load Center, and inspecting internal and external areas for any anomalies. He reports to the Pilot (Left Seat) and the FE and, if all is good, Condition 3 (In-Flight Equipment Test if it is an operational mission) or 2 (non-tactical flight) is set. Hope that helps.
When I retired in '86 (P-3A,B,C, & P AW), we had completely transitioned to the green flight suits. Who are these guys flying the khaki flight suits 7 years ago? Di they come back after I retired? Loved takeoffs and landings on the radar cabinet.
Desert flight suits. We deployed to a site that was in the desert region but got sent somewhere else due to tasking. A lot of us only had desert flight suits when this fcf took place so we made due with what we had.
@@adamwelsh7567 Thanks for the clarification, Adam. Lots of time taxiing in butt-deep snow with the entire crew in the cockpit because of ice on the taxiway, but never made it to the desert. I assume that was SS2 on the camera.
@@pdlister Hiya, Pete!
@@jimtownsend7899 Hiya, Jim!
What does that guy in da middle seat do do?! AW2 with VP5 X 2,000 hours
He's the Stagecoach Driver. He sits between two horses' asses and goes cross country! 🤣🤣
Why do C2 pilots wear bone domes but the P3 pilots only headsets?
Because we don't crash as much..
Completely different aircraft. The C-2 was designed to and lands on aircraft carriers routinely, while the P3, though capable in emergencies, does not normally find itself in such a situation.
@@skylerwaite P3’s are not capable of landing on a carrier. Not now not ever.
Because P-3 crews aren't trying to land on a runway that's moving. Obliquely, at that!
me too 5 years at magoo
Vp 17. Same.
Any one in this video know Eric 'Rick' Mead???
The props don't even spin faster.
Engine speed increases causing the props to change their pitch in order to maintain 100% (on-speed). Only time the prop speed would be different is on the ground when operating in low rpm vs normal rpm
Lockheed 188 ELECTRA?!
P3 was derived from it.
Wonderful pilot
Gene Nix .... AT2 ..... Radio and In-flight Tech. VP-9 .... Golden Eagles..... 1974-1977. Flew on the P-3 A, P-3 B, and the new P-3 C, I was crew 11 .... we were known as the Wombats. What I wouldn't give to hear those engines one more time. This new P-8 looks like it might be a great plane. However ..... let's think about this: Can it fly with two engines feathered, can it remain on station for 14+ hours, can it land in the Philippines and allow a group of sailors to get their "Mumbles" initiation, can you put a drunk flight engineer in the back bunk to sober up, can you throw the bird to Russia ships as you take pictures of them, can it run like Hell when Russia Migs are launched from a "Parpo" that got a little to close, can the radio operator spill the honey bucket on a full bird air force officer after a 14 hour flight, can you trick a new Ensign navigator to run around your plane with a sonobuoy telling him you are preflighting the radar, can it listen to skyking messages until your radio operator has lost all sense of hearing, can you bring back a load of furniture from Taiwan and Thailand in the plane so your wife will accept that this is the reason you got the Gono in Korea, can you put out a fire in the main electrical load center on a flight from Diego Garcia to Thailand, can you send a "Mayday" message to anybody that will listen that you are on fire and you can't get engine four back on line because it's on fire, can you ride a baht bus without dying, can you eat camel blood soup in Iran to keep from offending these people ..... I think not. Love my P-3's .... Love my VP-9 .... Love that life and the man it made out of this 19 year old radio operator. Shout out to Chief Rainbow .... good friend that showed me the town in Thailand. AT-2 Gene Nix ... VP-9. 1974-1977. Crew 11, the Wombats. Got my manhood played with many times around a table as my crew would party. Girl under the table .... whoever smiled would buy the next round of Sam Miguel. Got shot at by VC gun boats, locked on by Russia ships, launched on by Migs, almost ditched from a fire .... but I'd do it again. Love my P-3 and love the new P-8.
I was an AE2 in VP-9 85-88 P3-C Moffett Field. Love this aircraft.
VP 9 as well.
Been there, done that. VP-2 (P2Vs) VP-50 P3, A,B,C VP 30 and 31, VQ 1, PMTC Pt Magu
Damn, stop it! You're making me cry! So many of the same memories! No camel blood soup, but I did have a few warm San Miguels. Painted label, of course. But not at VP Alley, where they were always ice cold! Jeepneys out to Marilyn's, "home of the best you-know-whats in the world". On the plane, 2 things you could count on: The PPC loitering 1 and 4 while buzzing around ONSTA below 500 ft so the buoy drops would be more accurate; and our honey bucket never got used. Ever. Even in those 2nd and 3rd weeks after arriving in Cubi, while your body adjusted. We did learn how to alleviate a full urinal by using the Rainbow Lifeguard and the Pyrotechnic Pistol Port (the P-3's P3!). My Ordie loved taking the SLCs out of the internal P chute and unscrewing the CAD, then pointing the SLC at SS 1&2 and blowing the cordite smoke in our faces. One year in Kadena, we flew without an EDC on #3 for 2 weeks. The tube was so hot we flew in t-shirts, shorts, boots, LPAs, and doo rags. The SDRs at 1 & 2 got so hot you'd burn your arm leaning on them. But the avionics never crapped out, until we got the EDC in and froze our asses off for two days and everything went Tango Uniform. Had Ivan popping flares at us while doing a full rig on him, flew RADAR run-ins at 100 ft in zero zero without offsetting because the PPC was concerned we wouldn't see targets if we did. But, R&R in Pattaya Beach was nice!
Be damed if they call me an AW!
I am flight engineer of P3c orion
Got lots hours in p3 but never saw takeoff ond land with flight engeneer standing behind his seat
I was an FE, whoever was hanging out up there (2nd FE or anybody) sat on the CB panel or stood up, or on the radar cabinet. Did it all the time.
As an IFE most of my T/O's and Landings were as shown in video...
johnnt turner I sat on the radar cabinet countless times.
I saw takeoff and landings while sitting on the radar cabinet behind pilot.
That was a spare pilot most likely. 6 years I flew P-3's as flight engineer. Someone was always standing behind or sitting on the circuit breaker panel.
How are you sir I am from Pakistan