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Military Aircraft Lockheed P-2H NEPTUNE Photo By Coll B. Thouanel |
| In 1941 Lockheed's Vega subsidiary made initial studies for a land based maritime patroller, but such was the need for other planes during the Second World War that it was 1944 before twoXP2V-1 prototypes were order The first of these flew in May 1945 with two 2,300-hp R3350-8 radials, and the P2V-1 Neptune production aircraft entered service March 1947. This opened the way for an amazing family of planes and 1,181 aircraft were built. Some of these are still in service with the designation P-2 adopted in 1962. The series went though a large number of forms with increased power, more modern electronics, and revised armament. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Lockheed | Length: 91 ft. 8 in. |
| First Flight: May 1945 | Height: 20 ft. 4 in. |
| Model: H | Wing Span: 103 ft. 10 in. |
| Crew: Seven | Wing Area: 1,000.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Neptune | Empty Weight: 49,935 lb. |
| Basic Role: Maritime patrol aircraft. | Max. Weight: 79,895 lb. |
| Other
Versions: P2V-1 initial model. P2V-2 with
son buoys. P2V-3 with 3,200-hp R-3350-26Ws.
P2V-4 AEW aircraft later P-2D. P2V-5 with glazed nose, MAD "Sting" 3,250-hp thrust Westinghouse J34 turbojets. later P-2E. P2V-6 improved aircraft, later P-2F. P2V-7 with more power, later P-2H. |
Armament: Two 0.5-in 12.7-mm machine guns in dorsal turret, and up to 8,000 disposable stores. |
| Principal User: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, and USA. |
Propulsion |
|
Performance |
Power Plant: Wright R-3350-32W Turbo compound radial piston engines and two 3,400-hp thrust Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojets. |
| Range: 3,685 miles. | Horsepower: 3,500-hp |
| Max. Speed: 403 at 1,400 ft. | No. Of Engines: two |
| Ceiling: 22,000 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 1,760 ft. per minute. |