August 2019
Estrella Warbirds Museum recently acquired this retired Lockheed Neptune firefighting aircraft from Neptune Aviation. Introduced in 1947, the Neptune was the primary U.S. land-based anti-submarine patrol aircraft, replaced later on by the P-3 Orion in the mid-1960s. Beginning with the P2V-5F model, the Neptune became one of the first operational aircraft fitted with both piston and jet engines. In normal operations, the jet engines were run at full power duing takeoff, then shut down upon reaching a safe altitude. The jets were also started and kept at flight idle during low-altitude operations as a safety backup in case of radial engine problems. Nikon D500 w/18-200mm.