Warbird Information Exchange

The civil register for all of the P-3s stored at McClellan (Sacramento), CA, have been reregistered to a VRB Corp of Detroit, MI. ...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - LockheedP-3A-25-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n P.3-05, c/n 185-5036, c/r N917AU
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-45-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n 2P0017, c/n 185-5100, c/r N922AU
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-45-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n 2P0027, c/n 185-5104, c/r N900AU
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n 2P0022, c/n 185-5085, c/r N923AU
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n 2P0014, c/n 185-5082, c/r N927AU
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n 2P0011, c/n 185-5074, c/r N925AU
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-25-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n P.3-06, c/n 185-5039, c/r N920AU {2}
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-45-LO Orion - Lockheed, Burbank, California, USA, s/n 151385, c/n 185-5098, c/r N921AU

Does anyone know if they are still at McClellan? Will they be relocating to Detroit?

Mike


A few photos from my visit in 2011...

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Wonder if this is related to the 4 Electra`s sitting at Ypsilanti?

Aren't those former ZANTOP bumper and muffler haulers that have had just about every 'in demand' rotable removed? At one time I believe the props (different make and style from P-3's) were demanding about $1 Mill per blade for serviceable units.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I remember Buffalo airways went to the auction for them. Never found out the outcome, but I guess they never purchased them.

Israleli corporaton (Monsanto) is rumored to have purchased them, the talk is that they are going to be brought back up to airworthy condition and used to fight fire again here in the states. Well that is the rumor at least.

Scott....

They were all still standing in the same location when I was there last october.

_________________
Groningen Eelde Aviation Society

Well, for one Monsanto isn't an Israeli company. For two, I don't know if they're in any position to get into the firefighting business since they're still heavily involved in multiple lawsuits over Solutia, Inc. and old Monsanto products and activities.

Interesting that VRB Corp. appears to be a real estate properties management company. The president, John M. Killian is also an EVP at Comerica Bank in Dallas.

_________________
Chris Kennedy
Peoria, AZ

VRB Corp is not just real estate. They are a "Bank Holding Company" subsidiary of Comerica Bank. Basically, they are where real estate or real property is listed under when the bank takes over property it had a loan out on.They are now responsible for the property and its disposition, whether selling it, scrapping it, or just sitting on it. I suspect that either the P-3s or AeroUnion itself had significant financing through Comerica Bank so when the grounding occured, the airplanes were either "returned to the bank" or they were used as payment for whatever outstanding debts they have with Comerica Bank.

The planes may or may not be moved at this point, it depends on if VRB has an agreement with someone at McCelland to keep watch on the planes or if they want to move them somewhere that they do have such an agreement.

Makhteshim is the Israeli company that is similar to Monsanto, but I can't imagine why Makhteshim would get into the firefighting business, especially since they were purchased by ChemChina last year. Unless the Chinese want to have bombers on American soil...

Maybe they're going to turn the P-3s into ultra-modern designer condos!

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida