In 1987 a representative from HARS attended a conference held in Tahiti and contact was made with the French Embassy in respect to obtaining a French Neptune. Upon arrival at Tahiti-FAAA (Papeete’s International Airport) three were sighted, one partially burnt, one stripped of its engines and the other (147566) appeared to be intact. These three Neptune aircraft were all that remained of Escardrille 12. An inspection of Neptune 566 revealed that although some instruments were missing, the aircraft was in sound condition and its tanks still contained 2000 lbs of fuel. The aircraft was located in an area that could easily be described as a swamp, into which it was slowly sinking.

The original intention was to acquire and dismantle the aircraft as a source of spare parts for the Society’s other Neptune (273), however after viewing the documentation, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to flying condition in Tahiti and fly it back to Australia. It had flown a total of 2,430 hours and was considered to be in excellent condition as the aircraft had been extensively overhauled just prior to being de-commissioned in 1983.

After further negotiations the title was transfered to HARS. There were a number of trips to Tahiti before Neptune 566 was finally made ready by HARS members for the ferry flight to Australia in July 1989. Neptune 566 was placed on the Australian civil register as VH-LRR, and after a number of public appearances at air shows, was positioned to Tamworth for storage and care. In September 1999 the aircraft was ferried from Tamworth to Bankstown and than in January 2003 it was flown to the new HARS base at the Illawarra Regional Airport where the overhaul work continues pending return to full flying status.

Lockheed Neptune P2V-7 (566)

Aircraft Specifications

Purpose Long range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft

Length 28 m  |  91 ft 8 in

Wing Span 37.7 m  |  103 ft 10 in

Height 8.5 m  |  28 ft

Wing Area 92.9 sq m  |  1,000 sq ft

Maximum Take Off Weight 36,240 kg  |  79,895 lbs

Empty Weight 22,650 kg  |  49,935 lbs

Maximum Speed 664 km/h  |  410 mph (375 kt)

Cruise Speed 302 km/h  |  188 mph (175 kt)

Initial Climb Rate 536 m/min  |  1,760 ft/min

Maximum Range 5930 kms  |  3685 nm

Service Ceiling 11,750 mm |  38,550 ft

Crew |  Total 10 aircrew

Search Light |  70 million candlepower located on the starboard  wingtip

Radar & Other Electronics |  Main radar housed in large ventral dome. Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) located in the (Stinger) glass fibre tail boom

Armament |  Two .05 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in dorsal turret, provision for underwing rockets and up to 8,000 lbs (3628 kg) of bombs, torpedoes, depth charges or mines.

Equipped for day and night torpedo attack, mine laying, mast level bombing and photo reconnaissance. The Aircraft can carry a variey of equipment for use against ships and submarines.

Engines

2 Wright compound 18 cylinder R3350-32W air-cooled radial piston engines

•  Maximum Power 2,610 kw  |  3,500 hp

•  Displacement 55 ltr |  3350 cu in

•  Propellors 4 blade (steel), constant speed, full feathering, reversible.

2 Westinghouse J34-WE turbo jet engines

•  Thrust 1,542 kg  |  3,400 lb