Editing Lockheed P-3 Orion (section)

==Design==
[[File:P-3A VP-49 1964.jpg|thumb|A USN P-3A of [[VP-49]] in the original blue/white colors]]

The P-3 has an internal [[bomb bay]] under the front [[fuselage]], which can house conventional [[Mark 50 torpedo]]es or [[Mark 46 torpedo]]es and/or special ([[nuclear weapon|nuclear]]) weapons. Additional underwing stations, or pylons, can carry other armament configurations, including the [[AGM-84 Harpoon]], [[AGM-84E SLAM]], AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, [[AGM-65 Maverick]], {{convert|127|mm|in}} [[Zuni (rocket)|Zuni rockets]], and various other [[sea mines]], missiles, and gravity bombs. The aircraft also had the capability to carry the [[AGM-12 Bullpup]] guided missile until that weapon was withdrawn from U.S./[[NATO]]/Allied service.<ref name='P-3C Chart '>
[http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/p-3c.pdf "P-3C."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728231535/http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/p-3c.pdf |date=28 July 2010 }} ''history.navy.mil.'' Retrieved: 14 July 2010.</ref>

The P-3 is equipped with a MAD in the extended tail. This instrument is able to detect the magnetic anomaly of a submarine in the Earth's magnetic field. The limited range of this instrument requires the aircraft to be near the submarine at low altitude. Because of this, it is primarily used for pinpointing the location of a submarine immediately prior to a [[torpedo]] or depth bomb attack. Due to the sensitivity of the detector, electromagnetic noise can interfere with it, so the detector is placed in P-3's fiberglass tail stinger (MAD boom), far from other electronics and ferrous metals on the aircraft.<ref name='FAS P-3'>[http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/air/asw/air_antisubwar.html "Air Anti-Submarine Warfare ."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112111540/http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/air/asw/air_antisubwar.html |date=12 January 2010 }} ''fas.org.'' Retrieved: 14 July 2010.</ref>

===Crew complement===
[[File:Cockpit van een Lockheed P-3C (Update II) Orion lange afstand maritiem patrouillevliegtuig (2097 044 077915).jpg|thumb|left|Flight instruments and controls in the cockpit of the P-3C Orion (Update II) in Dutch service.]]
[[File:P-3 Orion underside view 20080614.jpg|thumb|An underside view of a USN P-3C showing the [[Magnetic anomaly detector|MAD]] (rear boom) and external [[sonobuoy]] launch tubes (grid of black spots towards the rear)]]
[[File:Helice HS 54H60-77.JPG|thumb|A German Navy Rolls-Royce Allison T56-A-14 engine with Hamilton Standard 54H60-77 propeller]]
The crew complement varies depending on the role being flown, the variant being operated, and the country that is operating the type. In U.S. Navy service, the normal crew complement was 12 until it was reduced to its current complement of 11 in the early 2000s when the in-flight ordnanceman position was eliminated as a cost-savings measure and the ORD duties assumed by the in-flight technician.<ref name="USNavyFactFile"/> Data for U.S. Navy P-3C only.

Officers:
*three [[Naval Aviator]]s
**Patrol Plane Commander (PPC)
**Patrol Plane 2nd Pilot (PP2P)
**Patrol Plane 3rd Pilot (PP3P)
*two [[Naval Flight Officer]]s
**Patrol Plane Tactical Coordinator (PPTC or [[TACCO]])
**Patrol Plane Navigator/Communicator (PPNC or NAVCOM)
NOTE: NAVCOM on P-3C only; USN P-3A and P-3B series had an NFO Navigator (TACNAV) and an enlisted Airborne Radio Operator (RO)

Enlisted aircrew:
*two enlisted Aircrew Flight Engineers (FE1 and FE2)
*three enlisted Sensor Operators
**Radar/MAD/EWO (SS-3)
**two Acoustic (SS-1 and SS-2)
*one enlisted In-Flight Technician (IFT)
*one enlisted Aviation Ordnanceman (ORD position no longer used on USN crews; duties assumed by IFT)

The senior of either the PPC or TACCO will be designated as the aircraft Mission Commander (MC).

===Engine loiter shutdown===
Once on station, one engine is often shut down (usually the No. 1 engine – the left outer engine) to conserve fuel and extend the time aloft and/or range when at low level. It is the primary candidate for loiter shutdown because it has no generator. Eliminating the exhaust from engine 1 also improves visibility from the aft observer station on the left side of the aircraft.

On occasion, both outboard engines can be shut down, weight, weather, and fuel permitting. Long, deep-water, coastal, or border-patrol missions can last over 10 hours and may include extra crew. The record time aloft for a P-3 is 21.5 hours, undertaken by the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]'s [[No. 5 Squadron RNZAF|No. 5 Squadron]] in 1972.