I
spent last week in Atlanta, Georgia at the International P-3 Operator’s
Conference. The P-3 is a maritime patrol aircraft that’s been in service since
the early 1960s. The United States operates nearly 150, Japan has about 100.
....
....
....
....
The
aircraft has been delegated by the US to mostly an anti-submarine role but
lately more operators have been tasked with anti-piracy missions off Somalia. ....
....
....
The
P-3C has been upgraded over the years to allow for advances in avionics and
amazingly, there’s really no aircraft that can take it’s place. ....
....
The
United States will replace it’s P-3C fleet with the P-8 and Japan will replace
her P-3Cs with P-1s. Both the P-8 and the P-1 are turbo-fan jets that will not
be able to loiter (fly very low to the water and very slow) like the P-3C can.
The P-3C can remain on station for nearly 14 hours! ....
....
....
....
I
think like guitars and motorcycles, the late 50s/early 60s were a golden age in
aviation. We still use the KC-135, the B-52, the P-3C and the C-130. These
planes were built in 50 years ago but they still are used everyday!....
....
While
in Atlanta we discussed the future of maritime patrol and we learned what other
countries missions are. It was very interesting. ....
....
I
talked with Flight Officers from countries all over the World and I’d always
ask about the Japanese P-3Cs. I heard the same story from all of them: The
Japanese P-3Cs are the best maintained in the World! A Lockheed executive said
the bulkheads are wiped down!....
....
Sadly,
I heard that Japan plans to scrap many of its P-3Cs. Some of these planes have
less than 15,000 hours on them. That’s like finding a 1959 Cadillac and
chopping it up! Nooooooooo! Please write your representitive in the Japanese
Diet and tell them to keep the Japanese P-3C in service!!!!!....
....
I
got to speak with many of the JMSDF Officers and avionics suppliers! I even
talked to a young Nihonjin from Mitsubishi about GO!GO!7188 : )....
....
I
tried to observe diplomacy and protocol for Japanese : ) I carefully handed my
card with two hands and carefully examined theirs before putting it into my
wallet. ....
....
....
JMSDF
Captain Ichikawa....
....
I
got to accompany my BD director Lt. Col Oakley, USMC. I introduced him to Capt
Ichikawa JMSDF: “Lieutenant Colonel Harry Oakley, United States’ Marine Corps
des” ....
....
....
Lt.
Col Oakley is an F-18 Fighter Pilot and a Top Gun graduate. I just say, “Yes
sir” when he asks me to do something
: ) ....
....
Later
the Colonel had a few beers and started in on some very interesting stories.
Marine fighter pilot’s typically have some pretty good stories and Col Oakley
is no exception. Never, ever try to out-story a Marine fighter pilot! : )....
....
....
The
Japanese Contingent outside the hotel. I’m in there too! Sorry the picture is
very blurry.....
....
....
Me
and Gondo-san at dinner....
....
....
On
the last day of the conference we toured Bldg1 of the Lockheed Marietta
facility where they make the F-22 and where the P-3Cs will be rewinged. The
F-22 is the most advanced fighter in the world and very impressive to look into
the weapons bay! (I can’t talk anymore about that : )....
....
....
And
yes, even Atlanta has sushi! Owned by Chinese : (....
....
Momo
wants to go out for Halloween!....
So
Momo the shiba wanted to go out for Halloween and get candy! She even had her
trick-or-treat pumpkin!....
....
....
No
I did not put this on her head! She did this herself.....
....
....