P2V-7 NEPTUNE

The Lockheed P2V Neptune was a US naval patrol and anti-submarine (anti-submarine) aircraft from the Cold War period. The machine was first flew in May 1945, and in 1947 it began to enter service. The drive was provided by two radial motors Wright R-3350-32W each with 3,700 hp . The machine was able to carry a load of bombs, depth charges and torpedoes weighing up to approx. 3600 kg. The Lockheed P2V Neptune was developed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon aircraft in the lineup. It puts a lot of emphasis on the comfort of the crew's work, as well as the durability and range of the flight. The fact that this goal was achieved is evidenced by the flight in 1946, when one of the produced P2Vs flew from Perth, Australia to Columbus, USA, covering a distance of over 18,000 km without stopping or refueling in the air! In the course of serial production, many development versions were created, such as the P2V-7, which was powered by radial engines and had auxiliary, jet, starter engines, as well as more modern electronic equipment compared to the previous versions. The Lockheed P2V Neptune turned out to be a very successful machine and was used - outside the USA - also in countries such as Australia, Argentina, Chile and France.