Feast Your Eyes on TWO Awesome Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm In-Action Videos
When the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) made the recruiting film “Sea Eagles” in 1980 aboard the Australian Navy’s aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21), Douglas A-4G Skyhawks, Grumman S-2G Trackers, and Westland Sea King Mark 50 and Wessex HAS31 helicopters were operating from the ship. They were able to do so because the carrier went through several lengthy and extensive refits during the late 1960s and 1970s that added or improved her flight deck, catapults, and arresting gear. Even so the Melbourne was one of the smallest carrier ever to operate jet aircraft from her deck. Thanks to the YouTube channel of the Royal Australian Navy for uploading this look at carrier aviation Royal Australian Navy-style.
The Douglas A-4G Skyhawk was modification of the A-4F variant without the avionics hump but with the ability to employ AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles. A total of 16 A-4Gs (including a pair of TA-4G trainers) were configured by Douglas for the RAN, entering service in 1968. They were later modified more extensively and sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as A-4Ks.
WATCH: Royal Australian Navy Carrier Ops From an Impossibly Small Flight Deck 4
Trackers Down Under
The Grumman S-2E Tracker entered service with the RAN in 1968. During nearly 17 years of Tracker operations at sea the RAN lost only a single S-2E Tracker. But a December 1976 hangar fire at Naval Air Station Albatross near Nowra in New South Wales destroyed nine of the 12 S-2E Trackers in RAN service. They were replaced in 1977 by US Navy S-2G variants.
image via royal australian navy
Slow-Motion Action Aboard the Melbourne
Watch catapult take offs and arrested landings by RAN Fleet Air Arm McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk and Grumman S-2E Tracker aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. Skyhawks shown are Nos 884, 886 and 889. Trackers shown are Nos 842, 844, 845 and 847. Uploaded to YouTube by AWM Collection.
Editors note: The primary image of this story was originally attributed to the Royal Australian Navy. It was in fact taken by Nick Thorne, used with permission under CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. We regret the error.
That’s 336 Pistons (and Lots of Great Sound) to You and Me
Anyone who attended EAA AirVenture 2017 in Oshkosh will tell you that warbird action at the event was absolutely top-notch. Everything from trainers to fighters to bombers; from jets to props; from every era was in attendance and many of them flew during the daily warbird shows. North American B-25 Mitchell bomber warbirds are always at Oshkosh in droves, and this year was no exception. With the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo taking place in 2017 it actually would have been a surprise if they weren’t. There are more than a dozen B-25s shown in this HD video uploaded by YouTuber airailimages. Enjoy the sights and sounds of B-25s over Wisconsin!
There are about 35 airworthy B-25s on the planet today. Many of them saw service in World War II, and nearly half of them were also used during the filming of the 1970 Paramount movie “Catch 22” in Mexico during the late 1960s. B-25s (and Navy and Marine Corps PBJs) also starred in the Paramount movie “In Harm’s Way” (1965), Warner Brothers’ “Forever Young” (1992), Columbia’s “Hanover Street” (1979), Touchstone’s “Pearl Harbor” (2001), and the cult classic CBS Friday Night Movie “Sole Survivor” (1970) among a host of others. A B-25 was also used as a primary aerial photography platform for the blockbuster United Artists film “Battle of Britain” (1969).
While there are plenty of things to still love about air travel, we all admit we’re not exactly living in the Golden Age of the airline industry. Yes, more people than ever are traveling, passport ownership has increased, and it’s getting cheaper to visit once-unaccessible destinations. Still, air travel these days isn’t that much fun like it used to be. Here’s our list of the top 5 things we miss about the way flying used to be.
1. Meeting Friends and Family at the Gate
Image via wikipedia commons
If you watch any sitcom or movie from the 1990s, you are bound to see a scene that used to be very common. A non-passenger walks to the gate to meet another character before or after their flight. On TV, it’s usually to proclaim their love. Remember that famous Ross and Rachel scene at the airport?
In the post-9/11 era, that’s just not going to happen. If you’re traveling solo, your entire time in the airport is going to be spent, well, alone. Just this month, Pittsburgh Airport announced they’d be making gates open to non-flyers (with the reasoning being many individuals wanting to shop and dine at the airport), though with some strict limitations. Will other airports follow? Probably not. We miss those days.
2. Free Checked Baggage
How many times have you measured, re-measured, weighed and re-weighed your luggage to be extra-sure you either weren’t going to have to pay for your bag? We understand why airlines charge for bags but is still a pain that air travelers of yesteryear didn’t have to worry about.
I’ve heard many passengers are still “surprised” when they get to the airport and realize they actually have to pay for that bag they brought along. Now, some airlines do offer free bags for certain individuals, credit card holders and the like, but it’s not always a sure thing anymore.
3. Plenty of Legroom
With airlines looking to increase profit and flyers demanding more available seats, adding more seats to an aircraft may seem like an obvious solution, until you realize everyone’s going to be crammed in there like sardines, up until the point where some legislators want to get involved. While you may think legroom was only a thing in the 50s and 60s, you may be surprised to see just how much room we’ve lost since the 90s alone. Some airlines had up to 37″ of pitch. American Airlines famously announced the “More Room Throughout Coach” campaign in the late 1990s. Those days are long gone. Now, you’re probably stuck with a seat width of 17.2 inches and a pitch of 30 inches (Spirit has 29″ pitch seats…ouch!). Let’s just be lucky the “Skyrider” never really caught on, an idea that came about in 2010, and was a saddle-style aircraft seat offering just 23 inches of pitch, and looking a whole lot like torture.
4. ‘Show and Go’ Flying
By Lhb1239 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
If you’ve flown internationally (or even domestically) recently, you’ve probably been frustrated by the amount of time it takes to go from curb to your flight. Most of us arrive well in advance “just in case” a security debacle ensues. If you happen to arrive at the airport during a lull, you then endure two or three hours of time just sitting around in the airport. While we’ll admit that some of the dining and shopping options at larger airports are pretty amazing, many others have limited entertainment options that make air travel more frustrating. Some restaurant options at the smaller airports feel like they haven’t been updated since the 1970s. Hot dog on a roller, anyone?
Once your plane arrives, the boarding process can be super painful too as every Palladium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze boards before you. Even if you are amongst the the lucky few to board first, you’ll just be sitting around watching everyone else board.
It used to be easier. If you arrived 30 minutes before your flight, you could make your flight. It’s why short haul shuttle operations like Southwest’s Texas triangle (Dallas-Houston-San Antonio) and the Washington DC-New York Shuttle were so convenient. It’s just not that practical today.
5. Free Food and Drinks
By Cudd22 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Free food on flights and alcoholic beverages used to be the norm, especially on international flights. On domestic flights, passengers could expect a sandwich, wrap, or salad. On international flights, a free drink or three were expected. On most domestic flights today, you are lucky to get a handful of trail mix or biscuit. With the rise of ultra-low cost carriers, a free non-alcoholic drink shouldn’t be the expectation. Some airlines like Spirit, even charge for a soda.
This might be one area of air travel that might be getting better. A few airlines, like Delta, are bringing back the free eats in long-haul economy. Though you may not get a hot meal on a starched tablecloth, they will at least they’ll hand you a bag of chips and a sandwich. American Airlines and Hawaiian have followed suit. And other airlines like Alaska have buy on board options including sandwiches and stews that are actually pretty tasty.
At Avgeekery, we’ve watched and reported on the disaster of Hurricane Harvey and the multi-faceted efforts to rescue those affected. While the human suffering is immense, there have been some amazing videos highlighting the heroism of first responders and by the activated National Guard and US Military. Here’s our full recap of the coverage thus far:
Manchester International Airport (EGCC) has a special attraction in store for aviation fans. It’s home to the Runway Visitors Park, a unique location for aircraft enthusiasts to watch departing and arriving aircraft, and tour a host of historic aircraft including the British Airways Concorde, RAF Nimrod, Monarch DC-10 and BEA Trident. It’s also home to The Aviation Shop, where aficionados can shop for aircraft models and aviation related gifts. The park is located lies just off Wilmslow Road, and is a must see for aviation fanatics.
An Aircraft Spotter’s Heaven
A view from the aircraft spotters deck. Photo by Donald Gardner.
Aircraft spotters deck. Photo by Donald Gardner.
Plenty of seating for aircraft spotters to enjoy lunch while watching airplanes. Photo by Donald Gardner.
The park is a must see for aviation spotters and photographers and provides an excellent viewing platform. Both of the airports runways are also visible from the viewing area. With over 500 aircraft movements per day, you can catch a glimpse a variety of aircraft ranging from the ATR-72 to Boeing 787.
Condor B757-300 after landing at Manchester. Photo by Donald Gardner.
An easyJet A319 taxies toward the parking apron. Photo by Donald Gardner.
Concorde Hangar
The British Airways Concorde G-BOAC is a must see for park visitors. The aircraft entered service in 1975 and transversed the globe for nearly 25 years. Visitors can tour the aircraft from nose to tail and even have the opportunity to sit in the seat in the flight deck. You may even catch one of the former Concorde pilots in the hangar! There is also a wonderful coffeeshop and cafe located next door!
The Concorde Hangar is home to the British Airways Concorde G-BOAC. Photo by Donald Gardner.
G-BOAC is a must see at the Runway Visitors Park. Photo by Donald Gardner.
The Aviation Shop
For model collectors and aviation memorabilia enthusiasts, The Aviation Shop offers a wide range of aviation gifts and accessories.
The Aviation Shop is a wonderful place for visitors to purchase aircraft models and aviation gifts.
Static Aircraft Displays
Aside from the British Airways Concorde, the Runway Visitors Park features several outdoor static aircraft displays including the RAF Nimrod, BAE Trident, Monarch DC-10 and Avro RJX.
Avro RJX. Photo by Donald Gardner.
Avro RJX Flight Deck. Photo by Donald Gardner.
RAF Nimrod. Photo by Donald Gardner.
BEA Trident. Photo by Donald Gardner.
For more information you can visit the Runway Visitors Park Website by clicking on the link below!
Donald Gardner is the Founder and Editor of The Diecast Flier, a hub for model collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. The Diecast Flier features the latest model aircraft news, reviews manufacturer interviews and more. Click here to visit The Diecast Flier!
Exercise Sentry Eagle 2017 was the 30th time the large-force tactical exercise has taken place. The biennial event drew 48 visiting Air Force and Navy aircraft from around the country. Boeing F-15C and F-15D Eagle fighters attended the event from the hosting 173rd Fighter Wing (FW), Oregon Air National Guard (ANG) Eagles based at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base (ANGB) near Klamath Falls.
The Eagles prepared a specially-adorned Eagle that was hands-down the best looking F-15 at the event. Additional F-15Cs and F-15Ds attended the exercise from the 144th FW, California ANG Griffins based at Fresno ANGB and the 142nd FW Oregon ANG Redhawks based at Portland ANGB. Thanks to YouTuber Habujet for uploading this video.
Official US Air Force Photograph
In addition to the Eagles attending the exercise, General Dynamics F-16C Vipers from the 149th FW, Texas ANG Lone Star Gunfighters based at Kelly Field Annex, from the 54th FG based at Holloman AFB in New Mexico, from the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) 419th FW based at Hill AFB in Utah, and from the 162nd FW, Arizona ANG based at Tucson ANGB attended the exercise. The 149th recently celebrated their 70th Anniversary in style with a special paint job on their best-of-show F-16.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Also attending the exercise were Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron TWO FIVE (VFA-25) Fist of the Fleet with Carrier Air Wing SEVEN (CVW-7) and from VFA-151 Argonauts with CVW-9, both based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in California. Rounding out the attending tactical aircraft were 56th OG Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs from Luke AFB in Arizona. The passing of gas to the tactical jets was performed by the 116th Air Refueling Squadron Ace of Spaces, 141st Air Refueling Wing (ARW), Washington ANG Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers based at Fairchild AFB near Spokane.
Last month visitors of the Amazing Royal International Air Tattoo 2017 (RIAT) in the UK witnessed a spectacular aerobatic display from the Italian C-27J Spartan, featuring many maneuvers not usually seen performed by an airlift aircraft. It even flew upside down, wich is a spectacular and incredible maneuver to perform with a military transport aircraft, like the C-27J.
From JERRY TAHA PRODUCTIONS comes this amazing video. The video shows the C-27 performing this incredible upside down maneuver.
Not surprisingly, given the fact of its being a product of Italian firm Alenia Aermacchi, the Italian Air Force was the first country to begin operating the twin-turboprop C-27J medium transport, doing so in 2006. It has since largely replaced the Aeritalia C-222, previously G222 (C-27A Spartan in U.S. service) on which the Spartan was based, and taken part in multi-national operations, not least in Afghanistan.
The C-27J Spartan is equipped with the engines and various other systems also used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to the standard transport configuration, specialized variants of the C-27J have been developed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, C3 ISR (command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), fire support and electronic warfare and ground-attack missions.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Taha Productions
In 2007, the C-27J was selected as the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) for the United States military; these were produced in an international teaming arrangement under which L-3 Communications served as the prime contractor. In 2012, the U.S. Air Force elected to retire the C-27J after only a short service life due to budget cuts; they were later reassigned to the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.Special Operations Command. The C-27J has also been ordered by the military air units of Australia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Peru, and Slovakia.
Video and story courtesy of Jerry Taha, a dedicated avgeek, writer, and videographer.
The Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) has been turning out fledgling jet pilots for the United States Air Force and our NATO allies since 1981. Many of the classes passing through ENJJPT produce a video chronicling their experiences in the program. Many of these videos are funny, some are well beyond funny, and a few are downright hilarious. This video, produced by class Class 01-08 and entitled “The Video That Started A Tradition”, is one of the hilarious ones. Thanks to YouTuber robertf16 for uploading this LOL-worthy look at ENJJPT as seen through the eyes of its multi-national students.
ENJJPT has been extended many times and expanded even more often. In 2016 the program added Romania as its 14th partner and was extended through 2026. The USAF hosts the program at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB) in near Wichita Falls in Texas and provides the wing commander, vice commander, and operations group commander in the top three leadership positions.
Officers from all 14 participating nations fill positions throughout the wing. Because of the multi-national nature of the staff, during the 55 week program an American student pilot might have a Belgian instructor pilot, a Dutch flight commander, a Turkish section commander, an Italian operations officer, and a German squadron commander.
The rescue of a 98 year old woman by Air Force helicopter exemplifies the challenging conditions that our nation’s heroes face.
We’ve already done a few stories about Hurricane Harvey and the search and rescue / recovery assistance the military has provided in the affected areas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said that military assistance has been provided by 43 states so far. Abbott called up the entire 12,000-member Texas National Guard to assist with the recovery efforts and the other state National Guard units are working alongside Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard assets to provide manpower, equipment, and support. Here’s a video from The US Army YouTube channel.
Air National Guard (ANG) units in Texas include the 176th Rescue Wing of the Alaska ANG, the 129th Rescue Wing of the California ANG, the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York ANG, the 920th Rescue Wing of the Florida ANG, the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut ANG, and the 125th Special Tactics Squadron of the Oregon ANG. Army National Guard helicopters and hundreds of personnel from Arizona, Utah, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, and other states have and still are performing not only search and rescue missions but also bridging, water rescue, logistics movement, airfield openings and medical water purification tasks. Here’s a video from the CBS News YouTube channel.
The Texas Army National Guard still has more than 20 helicopters working search and rescue and evacuation missions in Southeast Texas. Roughly 70 Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawks, Eurocopter UH-72 Lakotas, and Boeing CH-47 Chinooks in Army colors are sharing the skies with Air Force Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk, Navy Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk, and a total of some 39 Coast Guard Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk and Aerospatiale / Eurocopter MH-65 Dauphin helicopters. Add helicopters from the local Police, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies to the mix and it’s fair to say there are more than a hundred helicopters in the skies over Texas at any given time. Here’s a video from the CBS This Morning YouTube channel.
Fixed-wing aircraft assisting with the aftermath of Harvey include Coast Guard Lockheed HC-130J Hercules and CASA HC-144A Ocean Sentry search and rescue aircraft, Air Force KC-130 and HC-130 Hercules tankers and transports, Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airlifters, and even Boeing E-3 AWACS and E-8 JSTARS surveillance aircraft and at least one McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) KC-10 Extender tanker too. The Air Force has also sent elements of the 347th Rescue Group including personnel from the the 38th and 41st Rescue Squadrons to the area.
“Picked up a 98 yr old woman today. Imagine everything that she’s seen and been a part of. The stories she could tell! Well, she added one more to her book. When asked if she was ready for her ride in the helicopter she responded “hell yeah I wanna fly in a helicopter!” Can’t make this stuff up!” A 98 year-old female resident of Houston (seen in the background of this image) is loaded into a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter after being rescued from floodwaters produced by Hurricane Harvey, Sept. 1, 2017. The 347th Rescue Group from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. responded with aircraft and personnel in support of Federal Emergency Management Agency after flooding and destruction in parts of Texas. Official US Air Force Photograph
In addition to the Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters already in the area from HSC-7 Dusty Dogs and HSC-28 Dragon Whales, the service has dispatched the assault carrier USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) with about 700 members of Marine Expeditionary Unit 26 to the area for relief assistance. The Marine Corps Reserve has sent Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopters from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Red Dogs to the region. Other Marine Corps assets in the area include inflatable boats, 7-ton trucks and other high-water vehicles, and even AAVP7 tracked armored personnel carriers- which look awesome driving / floating around flooded city streets!
Official US Coast Guard Photograph
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has provided generators and 50,000 gallons of both gasoline and diesel fuel to keep the various military vehicles running. All told there are, in addition to the 12,000 members of the Texas Army National Guard, more active-duty personnel deployed in or prepared to deploy to the region. The Army has stated that more than 16,000 personnel from 23 states are involved. As search and rescue / recovery efforts continue it is important to note that the flooding in the Houston, Beaumont, and western Louisiana regions is not expected to subside not for days, but for weeks.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force officially announced on Thursday the firm launch date for the next mission of the unmanned military research space shuttle scheduled to make its first flight riding a top a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The Air Force X-37B space plane is scheduled to lift-off from the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday to begin the program’s fifth experimental flight, and the first launched by SpaceX. The first four missions were launch by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Cape Canaveral AFS.
The military nor SpaceX would release the exact launch time or window due to security surrounding the mission.
This will be the third flight of the first autonomous Boeing-built X-37B spacecraft, and is expected to spend over one year soaring around the planet between 400 to 600 miles above. The Sept. 7 launch will also mark the fifth mission flown by both OTV’s to test new technologies and spacecraft systems in orbit.
X-37B after arrival from its last mission. Photo: USAF
“The many firsts on this mission make the upcoming OTV launch a milestone for the program,” Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director Randy Walden said on Friday. “It is our goal to continue advancing the X-37B OTV so it can more fully support the growing space community.”
The Air Force refers to the Kennedy Space Center as the ‘Home of the X-37B’, with a specialized post-flight refurbishment hanger, and the capability to support OTV launches.
Next week’s launch will begin exactly four months following the conclusion of the fourth flight which lasted 718 days in space. Combined all four missions have loged 2,085 days in low Earth orbit.
“This mission carries small satellite ride shares and will demonstrate greater opportunities for rapid space access and on-orbit testing of emerging space technologies,” the Air Force added on Friday. “Building upon the fourth mission and previous collaboration with experiment partners, this mission will host the Air Force Research Laboratory Advanced Structurally Embedded Thermal Spreader payload to test experimental electronics and oscillating heat pipe technologies in the long duration space environment.”
X-37B prepares for flight. Photo by USAF.
The delta-winged craft’s launch from America’s Spaceport will occur from historic pad 39-A — the same launch pad which saw NASA’s Apollo moon missions and the space shuttle program launch from. Today, 39-A has been refurbished to support the Falcon 9 flights, and will be tested in 2018 to support the return of human-rated Dragon spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station.
The belly of the mini-space shuttle is protected with a black thermal protection system designed by NASA. Aligned with protective black and white thermal tiles, the mini space shuttle has a wing span of 14 feet, 11 inches from tip to tip.
About ten minutes following the Falcon 9 launch, it’s seperated first stage is scheduled to land back at Cape Canaveral.
(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
The film “The 707 Astrojet” was produced in 1961 by American Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft to introduce the flying public to their turbofan-powered Boeing 707 in American Airlines Astrojet colors. The film explains the unique aspects of the 707 and the experiences a passenger aboard one of the new jets would be likely to have. As you might expect, the principles behind the newly fitted Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1 turbofan engines are explained succinctly and understandably. Thanks to YouTuber PeriscopeFilm for uploading this time capsule film from a simpler age.
American Airlines flew 707s between 1959 and 1981. The 707 was AA’s first jet-powered equipment. The Astrojet livery was actually fairly short-lived, but the polish and paint job has been used on at least one Boeing 757 and a couple of Boeing 737 “retro-jets” in the years since the original Astrojet livery was replaced beginning in the late 1960s. Tragically on March 1st 1962, American Airlines Flight 1, a Boeing 707-123B Astrojet (registration N7506A) bound for Los Angeles (LAX), crashed due to mechanical failure two minutes after takeoff from Idlewild Airport (now John F Kennedy JFK) in New York with the loss of all on board.
The Lockheed Martin video “P-3 Orion Desert to Delivery” describes the transportation and refurbishment process used to pull P-3 Orion aircraft from the storage areas at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Recovery Group (otherwise known as the boneyard) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) for wing replacement and refurbishment so they can be returned to service. P-3s might be well on their way to being replaced by the Boeing P-8A Poseidon, but they are certainly not done yet. Thanks to LockheedMartinVideos for uploading this look at the effort to keep veteran but still viable aircraft going strong.
The aircraft featured in the video (Bureau Number 158920) was delivered to the United States Navy on July 11th 1973. It was eventually reworked to P-3C Update III Mod specifications. The aircraft spent time with Patrol Squadron FOUR NINE (VP-49) Woodpeckers and VP-16 War Eagles before being stricken from the US Navy’s list on 11/2/2004.
P-3C of VP-49 flying over Iceland. Official US Navy Photograph
The aircraft then served with the Taiwanese Air Force 33rd Squadron. After the airframe was returned to the United States it was stored at AMARG as AN2P0215. After its refurbishment at the Lockheed Martin facility the aircraft entered service with the United States Customs and Border Protection Service’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) group as a Long Range Tracker (LRT) aircraft, most of whose P-3s have been re-winged.
