Engineers carrying out major routine maintenance have opened up the former secretive submarine hunting and electronic surveillance Lockheed P-3 Orion at HARS Aviation Museum.
Formerly operated by the RAAF as A9-753, it is now the only retired Orion in Australia flying under civil registration as VH-ORI with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) based at Shellharbour Airport.
All panels, hatches and the bomb bay have been opened as engineers conduct checks to allow it to continue as a flying tribute to the electronic monitoring and maritime surveillance effort carried out by RAAF crews with this particular four turbo-prop engine aircraft from 1978 until 2016.
Although its “secret squirrel” radio and sonar buoy equipment was removed before ownership was transferred to HARS, the Orion maintains the look, feel and even aroma of its important former defence role.
Included in the 16,400 hours flown on service duty, the HARS Orion scoured the Indian Ocean for more than 350 hours searching for the missing MH370 airliner.
Renown for its rugged airframe and fast speed (405 knots), researchers in USA often flew Orion aircraft into cyclones (hurricanes) to gain vital data.
It was only late last year that the RAAF retired its last two Orions after the type completed 55 years of continuous service, with their role now undertaken by Poseidon aircraft developed from the Boeing 737 jet.
Before Orions entered service, their marine surveillance role with the RAAF was undertaken during the Cold War by Neptune and during the Second World War by Catalina aircraft, with HARS maintaining Australia’s only flying examples of both types.
The HARS Orion flew during the recent ASDU airshow at Shellharbour and, once the current engineering work is satisfactorily completed, will be ready to fly into the future with its volunteer crew.
The team is aiming to have current work complete to allow engine runs then flying this coming Saturday, 23 March.
Closed Christmas Day and open every other day
Closed only on Christmas Day, HARS Aviation Museum offers a largely undercover and hands-on experience for visitors at its Shellharbour Airport hangars.
Featuring almost 60 aircraft of significance to Australia’s aviation heritage including a former Qantas Boeing 747-400 and the beautiful Southern Cross Replica, HARS Aviation Museum is open from 9.30 to 3.30 daily for tours hosted by informative volunteer guides (last tour 2 pm). It is located at Shellharbour Airport, off the old Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail and just a short walk from the railway station.
Cafe Connie at HARS Aviation Museum
Visitors can make a meal of it when they drop into Café Connie (9.30 am to 2 pm) where the menu offers a great value selection of delicious hot and cold foods plus excellent coffee.
Details of check-in at HARS Aviation Museum at www.hars.org.au
