Design of the Neptune began during World War II to meet the U.S. Navy’s requirement for a large land-based patrol plane. The aircraft’s first flight took place in May 1945 and despite the end of the war in August development of the Neptune continued with deliveries beginning in late 1946. The P2V-7 is the last version of the Neptune produced and included the addition of two jet engines to supplement the aircraft’s pair of propellers. Many Neptunes were converted to fire fighters after their military service and a few continued to operate in this role as late as 2016.
Wingspan
103 ft 10 in.
Length
91 ft 8 in.
Height
29 ft 4 in.
Weight
73,139 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed
403 MPH
Service Ceiling
22,000 ft
Range
3,685 miles
Engines
Two Wright R-3350-32W radial engines with 3,500 horsepower each and two Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojets with 3,400 pounds of thrust each
Crew
2 or 3 in civil service
Manufacturer Lockheed
Markings Black Hills Aviation, Inc., Alamogordo, New Mexico, 1975
Designation P2V-7
Registration CF-MQW, N14448
Serial Number 135593
Pima Air & Space Museum
Creating unlimited horizons in aerospace education through the preservation and presentation of the history of flight.