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Exclusive Czech premiere – Norway to send a P-3 Orion!

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2015 is set again to offer some unique displays, some of them to be seen for the first time in the Czech Republic. Norwegian P-3 Orion, a dedicated maritime surveillance and anti-submarine airplane, should be one of these.

According to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, displays of this aircraft at European airshows are rare. “There are several European and NATO Orion operators and we wanted to bring the Norwegian one to Ostrava. That was why we discussed it with Norwegian authorities in Oslo last November,” comments Zbyněk Pavlačík, head of Jagello 2000. “Our country and an anti-submarine aircraft is a very intriguing link, I must admit. That is why we are so excited to be able to present the Orion to our visitors. We have tried to bring in a similar type of aircraft, the Nimrod MR2 of the Royal Air Force, but it was withdrawn form service before it could come to Ostrava.”

The P-3 Orion, manufactured by the US Lockheed company, is a four-engine turboprop aircraft with its  primary role being maritime surveillance including fighting submarines. For that purpose, the P-3 is equipped with a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) in the extended tail. This instrument is able to detect the magnetic anomaly of a submarine in the Earth's magnetic field. Detected subs can then be attacked with range of torpedoes or depth charges. Thanks to its sensors, the Orion can be also used in support of ground units, or for environment and resources management.

The Orion entered service in 1960s and is thus among the handful of those aircraft types that have been actively serving for more than 50 years (including also the B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker or C-130 Hercules). Norway operates 6 P-3 Orions with the 133 Wing out of the Andøya base.

The Orion in the AP-3C version of the Royal Australian Air Force was displayed at the Avalon Air Show, which the Jagello 2000 representatives visited earlier this year. “The Australians have displayed this aircraft not only on the static park but also in a very effective dynamic presentation, featuring the opening of the bomb bay and turning off one of the engines for saving fuel. The Norwegian Orion is planned for static display only, but will undoubtedly be one of the Ostrava´s highlights,” adds Pavlačík. “As is standard case with active-duty aircraft, we have been informed that the Orion display is subject to any unforeseen operational needs, given the current situation in the North and East of Europe.”

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