Orion P-3, static display and real-time hero

Published May 21, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Lindsey A. Beadle
11th Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- When the 2011 Joint Service Open House and airshow kicked off May 20, one of the static displays displayed was the Orion P-3 Airborne Early Warning Detection and Monitoring aircraft. A prime example of the joint-base initiative push during this year's open house, this Naval aircraft was located in the midst of swarming crowds on the center of the flightline. The P-3's massive service radar array, sitting atop the airframe makes this aircraft completely distinguishable from any other aircraft parked on the Andrews flightline.

"When we're done showcasing the P-3 at the air show this weekend, the P-3 will be out there, continuing to do the mission tomorrow," said Mr. Blalock. "While everyone else (aircraft displays) is packed away at a museum, we'll be out there, catching the bad guys."

Not only is the aircraft strikingly memorable in size and shape, unlike its older and outdated air show aircraft counterparts, the P-3's mission still exists today. From October 2010 to April 2011, the P-3 has stopped more than 86,000 pounds of illegal drug traffic, putting a stop to a combined total of more than $1 million in funding to criminal organizations. This capability is made possible by the radar signals provided by the P-3's aerial turbo-prop aircraft radar ceiling. Radar signals are captured, read and then transmitted to surrounding United States Coast Guard or Navy water units who deal with the information, threat or not, accordingly.

Mr. Chuck Blalock, National Air Security Operations Center detection enforcement officer, recognizes the high importance of his B-model P-3's mission and is primed to share it with all who visit the P-3 static display here this weekend.

"The P-3 works closely with Federal Emergency Management Agency and we were especially vital during Deep Water Horizon (the recent British Petroleum underwater oil spill off of the coast of The Gulf of Mexico cleanup efforts)," said Mr. Blalock.

Along with this distinction, the P-3 is the only law enforcement AEW aircraft in the world present at the 2011 JSOH. Developed to provide wide area search, increased command control and communications capabilities, the P-3 has an endurance of 12 hours of flight time and is capable of flying with a max gross weight of 135,000 pounds.

Guests to this year's Joint Service Open House had the opportunity to experience the flashy F-16 Thunderbird or the cockpit of the ultra-American B-25 Bomber, but with a closer look through the static displays, guests also experienced an aircraft protecting freedom in today's age.