Lockheed P2V Neptune military aircraft were used by the U.S. Navy, the RAF, Japan, Taiwan and numerous other U.S. allies as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The first prototype flew on May 17, 1945. By March of 1947 the first production aircraft entered service with the U.S. Navy.

Even before entering service, a Lockheed P2V Neptune set a long distance flight record of 11,250 miles from Australia to the United States in 55 hours 15 minutes.

The aircraft had a reputation as easy to maintain, solid, and dependable, loved by its crews.

The aircraft continued to be modified and improved throughout their service, which ended in 1985 with the retirement of Japanese aircraft.

The Lockheed P2V Neptune series 7 was the last military version of the aircraft. It featured two piston and two jet engines. It had a top speed of 364 mph making it the fastest version produced.

Lockheed P2V Neptune's Aero Union's "Firestar",  pictured above, entered service in 1988.

The conversion of the aircraft involved the removal of the auxiliary jet engines and other military aircraft equipment. They then installed a retardant delivery system in the belly of the aircraft. The system consists of a 2,000 gal. tank and two automatic digitally controlled retardant drop outlets. The system permits the pilot to control the rate of flow from the tank from 50 to 700 gps.

Specifications
Primary Function:     Crew:     Turbine Engines:     Power:     Turbojet Engines:      Power:        Wingspan:     Length:     Weight Empty:     Max Weight:     Cruise Speed:     Max. Speed:     Climb Rate:     Ceiling:     Range:     First Flight:     Year Deployed:	maritime patrol ten to twelve Wright R3350-32W 2x 4,000 hp ea. Westinghouse J34 2x 3,085 lbs. ea. 103' 10" 91' 8" 43,000 lbs. 80,000 lbs. 188 mph 364 mph 1,850 fpm 22,400 feet 4,350 miles 5/17/45 1947

The rc P2V Neptune by David Plummer.