P-3 Orion Research

The P-3 Orion Research Group is an initiative of Jaap Dubbeldam and Marco P.J. Borst. We started to cooperate in January 1990.

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

Keystone Heights was carried out under the Portuguese air force callsign "AFP18". It is unknown under what registration number the flight was carried out. 60+03 was already removed from the German inventory and the Portuguese registration 24812 was not yet valid 4/4

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

After having spent eight months on the tarmac at Bermuda, former German P-3C 60+03 was ferried to Keystone Heights, Florida on 22 May 2026. In September 2025 the aircraft was damaged in a taxi incident, involving an unidentified business jet, which taxied into the Orion's 1/4

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

remained parked at Bermuda for months. It's believed that MHD Rockland is contracted for re-evaluating the repairs and correct them if necessary. After the aircraft has received a new airworthiness certificate it will be flown to Portugal. The ferry flight from Bermuda to 3/4

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

@grok some people believe this video is AI generated because the aircraft doesn't move at all on impact. Is this video real or AI?

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

Recently this 52 years old Lockheed P-3F Orion became history...

[Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch @BabakTaghvaee1]

The end of 5-8704

After the fall of the Islamic regime of Iran, I and many, many others, would be responsible for rebuilding and restoring the Iranian Air Force for the future of a free and democratic Iran. For this reason, back in 2025, I lobbied extensively to convince American and Israeli officials not to destroy historic aircraft belonging to the Iranian Air Force, hoping that they could be preserved for the future. Starting in December of last year, I repeatedly warned that many of these aircraft represented irreplaceable pieces of Iran’s aviation history and should be protected for future generations. Unfortunately, I failed.

One of the most painful moments for me was witnessing the destruction of the last flyable P-3F Orion of the Iranian Air Force, 5-8704. This historic aircraft, which carried the memory of Iran’s military and technological achievements during the era of Shah Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi, had been relocated away from its main base in anticipation of possible airstrikes back in January. Many of us had hoped that it would survive the war and eventually be preserved in a future museum of the Iranian Air Force. Instead, the aircraft was destroyed by an AGM-114R2 Hellfire missile fired from a U.S. Air Force MQ-9A Reaper armed drone last night.

The loss of 5-8704 was particularly personal for me. In February 2011, I was able to see and photograph this very aircraft, 5-8704, shortly after it had completed depot maintenance. Shortly after that visit, I was placed on the watch list of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence for my activities in city of Shiraz. I managed to flee to Tehran before they could find and arrest me. The photographs shown here were taken during that visit and show 5-8704 at Shiraz in February 2011.

Years later, the same aircraft underwent another overhaul and modernization in Shiraz between 2022 and 2025, becoming the last flyable example of the P-3F Orion in Iranian service. I had hoped that one day this aircraft would survive the fall of the regime and be preserved for future generations as part of the history of the Iranian Air Force. Sadly, that hope ended with its destruction.

#OperationLionsRoar #OperationEpicFury

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

@BrunoSPalma 60+03 is damaged at Bermuda around 24/09/2025 and still there...

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

Germany 's last operational P-3C has left German airspace for the last time. The aircraft (60+04) is being ferried to it's new owner at Beja, leaving Germany without MPA/ASW capability until their new P-8A is operational...

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

It's a crying shame we can't achieve this in the Netherlands. After three years of preparatory work, they have thrown in the towel. The ex-RNLN Lockheed P-3C Orion 302 will definitely not be returning to The Netherlands. A unique, but missed opportunity 😥
https://t.co/tyueJdPvJr

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

https://t.co/IZv7MDyHYv

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

Check our updated website at https://t.co/5oFYfjZeNq and read the latest news about P-3 Orions worldwide. The P-3 Aircraft Location History Report has been updates as well. Dit you know the USN only has six P-3 Orions left in its inventory..?

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

Japanse Orions intercepted by Chinese fighters...

https://t.co/fyW3LPi42H

[Michael Glynn @realmikeglynn]

Yesterday, @F111Driver and I were discussing the ditching of RAAF P-3 Y9-754 and the investigation.

The investigation and report are very interesting-as they show how small manufacturing variations can impact aircraft through their lifecycle.

Here's the story. 🧵/1

[Michael Glynn @realmikeglynn]

In 2008, a U.S. Navy crew departed, spun, and came within 50' of crashing a P-3C near NAS Whidbey Island, WA.

A totally routine training flight - until it wasn't.

Here's the story of BuNo 161331 - and what can go wrong in a heavy turboprop with poor CRM. 🧵 /1

[Michael Glynn @realmikeglynn]

If this footage of the ROKN P-3CK mishap is genuine, it appears to show the aircraft in a turn, then stalling and departing from controlled flight. As a former P-3 aircraft commander, a few thoughts on unique issues with the Orion. 🧵/1

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

According to unconfirmed sources, the aircraft was P-3CK Orion 100917. That's an ex USN P-3B, BuNo 153416, built in 1966.

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

A RoKN P-3CK Orion crashed near Pohang today. A crew of four was onboard. RIP...

https://t.co/ggnbBlv9O7

[P-3 Orion Research @P3OrionResearch]

@hornetysfs How is the aircrafts registration 100917 confirmed?

[Neil Dunridge @Chiv63]

A day and a half at Pingtung-North produced three Lockheed P-3C Orion with the ROCAF, two in low viz markings (3303 & 3305 ) and one in higher viz (3302).  Happy with the results as this was one of the main goals for going back to Taiwan.  @P3OrionResearch #Orion