Erickson Collection Neptune has flown!

[Nathan]

It was posted on facebook a few days ago of the Erickson Collection Lockheed Neptune taking off! The only military config Neptune in the country. I hope more can be made flying. I think there could be a market for P2Vs.

[Kyleb]

It was posted on facebook a few days ago of the Erickson Collection Lockheed Neptune taking off! The only military config Neptune in the country. I hope more can be made flying. I think there could be a market for P2Vs.

I'd have though all of the P2V's were corroded to the point of being scrap. Decades of low altitude patrols over salt water will do that.

I know the guys who had one locally about 20 years ago found some very scary things in theirs before they sold it.

Saw the Facebook video of the Erickson P2V-7/P-2H Neptune flying the other day. First flight in at least 2 or 3 years or so.

Would be nice to see it fly a little more often and maybe make a few air shows.

The last Neptune in military configuration and markings before the Erickson one that flew in the U.S., was the MAAM's P2V-7/SP-2H in Reading, PA. It has probably been almost 20 years or perhaps more since it flew to some air shows. Those were the days when the MAAM Neptune and the MAAM Martin 404 did air shows. Corrosion may have been the problem that grounded them in both cases.

But many fire fighting Neptunes have continued to fly successfully for a long time.

[Bearcat SA]

They should bring it to Oshkosh !

They should bring it to Oshkosh !

Don't think it's going to happen, but wish they would.

[aircuda]

I miss the Neptunes. At one time, MAAM had 2 Neptunes although I am not sure they were ever flying at the same time. The other one was not restored and it was in pretty much the same condition (other than some painting) as when it was in storage. I had the privilege of flying in it in 1991. Takeoff acceleration was incredible despite it's size. (that may have had more to do with the lite weight of little fuel and little equipment). They used the jets on takeoff as well. We had a nose gear problem before landing at Reading and someone had to climb down and kick it to come down. This aircraft was sold in the mid 90's and became a fire bomber at Minden Air (tanker 48) and was still flying up to a couple of years ago. Coincidentally, the aircraft ended up on it's nose in 2014 because of nose gear failure. Unfortunately the one MAAM still has (along with the Martin 404) is unlikely to ever fly again. Unless someone has endless cash to make that happen.....

[Ken]

Even if corrosion causes a grounding, I sure hope they keep a few in full mil configuration for future generations to view and understand.

Ken

[wendovertom]

Awesome - there is something about the ASW planes that is really interesting to me as well. Those planes are an interesting mix of weapons, electronics and crew space. Just a fascinating world and planes like the Erickson Neptune help tell that story.

Tom P.

[JohnB]

ALL of them can't have been too badly corroded...after all many served for years as fire bombers...and that was after a decade or two in their ASW/patrol service.

I saw the ac when it was still in the Tillimook blimp hangar, it was very stock. I'm surprised they flew it again.

[StangStung]

This thread - it's worthless without pics.

[Nathan]

The P2V gets little observance. It's basically a ww2 medium bomber-so the interest COULD be there, that saw post war service until the 80s! The aircraft has a variety of variants, and the paint and marking schemes are endless. Im surprised more haven't been preserved to flying(other then the fire tankers)

I talked with the pilot of MAAM's Neptune. He said the reason they stopped flying was they didn't book enough airshows to keep it running. Its a real shame, as it was a flyer. Now after years of being outside on the ground, there is no telling how much work would be needed to get it flying again. I walked around it a few years ago and it was looking a bit boneyardish.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

"The only military config Neptune in the country..."

Doesn't the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum have one that is flying?

"The only military config Neptune in the country..."

Doesn't the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum have one that is flying?

Read up on this thread. A LONG time since the MAAM has had a flying Neptune.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

That's interesting, since the MAAM is currently offering it for air show appearances ($8,250 fee) on their website.

That's interesting, since the MAAM is currently offering it for air show appearances ($8,250 fee) on their website.

Must be a WAY out of date web site, or they have been running a clandestine Neptune restoration project...