Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune - McMinnville, Oregon
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 45° 12.208 W 123° 08.799
10T E 488482 N 5005563
Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune patrol bomber refitted as fire bomber on the grounds of the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
Waymark Code: WM62CW
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 03/21/2009
Views: 10
From information sign:
Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune 1950
General History:
Early in World War II, German U-boats took a heavy toll on Allied ships, which was stemmed by the presence of patrolling aircraft. Lockheed developed the P2V Neptune to combat this menace, but due to priority delays it did not fly until after the war.
The Neptune was the last radial-engine bomber to serve in the U.S., and one of the first to fly with both pison and jet engines. A P2V nicknamed "the Truculent Turtle" set a record in 1946 for the longest un-refueled flight, 11,237 miles -- a record unbroken until 1962. Setting the norm for modern patrol aircraft, the Neptune transformed from an armed patrol craft to a vessel equipped with anti-submarine electronics helping to keep Soviet submarines in check throughout the Cold War.
After retirement, the Neptune found a market with civilian operators as a "fire bomber." Carrying 2,400 gallons of retardant, the Museum's P2V-5 worked as an aerial firefighter for Evergreen International Aviation.
| Specifications: |
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| Type: |
Patrol Bomber
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First Flight:
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May 17, 1945
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Wing Span:
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103.10 feet
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| Length: |
91.2 feet
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| Height: |
28.1 feet
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Weight, Empty:
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41,754 pounds
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Weight, Loaded
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76,152 pounds
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Power:
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2 x Wright R3350-30W radial engines
2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojets
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Normal Crew:
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7-9 |
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Typical Armament:
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Two 12.7 mm machine guns
Rack for under wing rockets
Up to 8,000 lbs of bombs, torpedoes, depth charges or aerial mines.
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| Performance: |
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Cruise Speed:
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207 miles per hour
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Top Speed:
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323 miles per hour
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Rate of Climb:
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1,760 feet per minute
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| Range: |
2,200 (combat) - 4,750 (ferry) miles
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Service Ceiling:
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22,000 feet
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