The aircraft are going to their final resting place 71 years after the model was first introduced to the U.S. Navy.
In 1947 the first P2V Neptune flew for the U.S. Navy serving in the maritime patrol and anti-submarine role. In 2017, 70 years later, the last P2V’s to work as air tankers in the United States retired. As the U.S. Forest Service contract for what they called “legacy” air tankers expired, Neptune Aviation transtioned their fleet of war birds to aircraft several decades younger, jet-powered BAe-146 airliners. After working out some early bugs with the completely redesigned retardant delivery system, the newer quad-jets have performed admirably.
Neptune announced today that it has found new homes for its venerable fleet of P2V’s.
Neptune’s P2V fleet at Alamogordo, New Mexico, March 2018. Photo by Dan Snyder.
The P2V began aerial firefighting services during the 1970’s, when the U.S. Navy began to phase the aircraft out of service. Missoula based Neptune Aviation Services has operated the P2V since 1993. In fact, Neptune had been the largest remaining civil or military operator of the aircraft, with as many as 10 under US Forest Service (USFS) contracts in a single year.
One of Neptune’s P2Vs should go to the Smithsonian Museum.
know that as the navy version they are important,but i wish one would be kept as a tanker for future generations as well,like i would have loved to see one,just one F7F kept as a tanker.
I suspect some of these will remain in tanker configuration.
fantastic news much better they go to an aviation museum rather than scrapping.
It also should be noted that T-10 will be on permanent static display at the entrance to Missoula airport.
Should also be noted that 14 and 44 will maintain their colors and tanks so they can be flyable airshow birds.
I will genuinely miss the sound of P2V approaching the line. I remember being on a small ridge watching 2 Neptune P2Vs save our bacon on a hot day near Lake Billy Chinook. I could see into the cockpit and saw the pilot wave just as he pulled up at the end of a drop. For some reason that is one of my favorite moments from years of fire. What a cool aircraft with great history!
I flew the beast for four years back in the 60s. What a glorious bird.