Three Airstrike P-3A tankers up for auction

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2023 7:14 pm

Found this preliminary listing at CWS Marketing:
https://www.cwsmarketing.com/?p=30683

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1161

[quote="Chris Brame"]Found this preliminary listing at CWS Marketing:
/quote]

Ah several ex Aero-Union birds- very attractive scheme. I imagine Air Strike cherry picked the best Aero-Union aircraft for return to service. Did these ones start flying again for Air Strike?. 1964 vintage.

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2023 12:00 pm

Twenty years ago, there was a nice P-3 in Spanish markings parked in Abilene, Texas.
It was a training airframe for the community college aviation school. Very complete, the ASW consoles were still in back.

It was a very early airframe, so early its data plate said P3V-1, in the pre 1962 designation system.

One day a crew from Aero Union came to make it airworthy, which they did in short order.
I recall the crew joking about who would get its spotlight, one guy said he hookend one to a 24 volt generator and made it a beacon on his ranch.

I don't have the serial or N-number, but I would like to know its fate if any of you are P-3 or Aero Union experts.

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2906

JohnB wrote:

Twenty years ago, there was a nice P-3 in Spanish markings parked in Abilene, Texas.
It was a training airframe for the community college aviation school. Very complete, the ASW consoles were still in back.

It was a very early airframe, so early its data plate said P3V-1, in the pre 1962 designation system.

One day a crew from Aero Union came to make it airworthy, which they did in short order.
I recall the crew joking about who would get its spotlight, one guy said he hookend one to a 24 volt generator and made it a beacon on his ranch.

I don't have the serial or N-number, but I would like to know its fate if any of you are P-3 or Aero Union experts.

Sounds like this one-
https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDo ... rial=33973

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2023 4:59 pm

Thanks, sad to hear of it being scrapped.

StudeDave · **Posted:** Sat Oct 28, 2023 7:05 pm

Chris Brame wrote:

Found this preliminary listing at CWS Marketing:
https://www.cwsmarketing.com/?p=30683

Bummer to hear this news.
Hopefully they are not bought just for parts.

Any chance for a working link....?

StudeDave · **Posted:** Sat Oct 28, 2023 7:12 pm

sandiego89 wrote:

Did these ones start flying again for Air Strike?.

I can't say as to 17, but 22 and 23 flew for a bit.
One of them belongs (belonged?) to Buffalo Airways.
I am fairly sure it was '22'.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:17 pm

StudeDave wrote:

Any chance for a working link....?

Hmm. Checked the site and the auction appears to have been removed...? Link for the photo still worked but I saved it to Flickr just in case/for the record.

StudeDave · **Posted:** Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:31 pm

Found a link that works~

https://aircraftforsale.com/aircraft/turboprop/lockheed/reconnaissance/p-3-orion/655e3def-a1bd-4887-9f7f-3b295f4be61b?utm_source=omail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SME_12%2F2&oly_enc_id=7798I9374067A7R&fbclid=IwAR1L5PRj-3w-sX1Kpb1jxtniP7XQJ6wKhb9ynYWeWq-npPXModbcCoUk2SI

Whose in?

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Three Airstrike P-3A tankers up for auction

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