We have a fleet of well maintained P3 Orions. These are owned outright by the Commonwealth. The US would, no doubt, be happy to relinquish any hold they might have on the basic airframes, once stripped of any role equipment relating to military ops. This is especially so, when one considers the politics.
Selected aircraft could be sent to the states for tanking, using, say, the RADS II, external tank set up. All the engineering has been done. CASA represents a huge risk. Therefore, the aircraft will have to switch to N reg.
To achieve best operational flexibility, the aircraft will need to be operated privately. This could be financed, by local operators, against long duration contracts to governments.
The L188/P3 offers 12,000 - 13,000 litre capacity, fast ferry speeds (jet speed), more airstrip options, a great climb and beaut slow speed behavior and capability on the drop run, and with a good drop pattern.
Then again, we could just scrap them......
Last edited by R755; 21st Jan 2020 at 11:42.
Reason: readability