P-3 Orion Engine Shutdown Loiter

P-3 Orion Engine Shutdown LoiterCourtesy Video Defense Imagery Management Operations Center

Engine loiter shutdown
Once on station, one engine is often shut down (usually the No. 1 engine – the left outer engine) to conserve fuel and extend the time aloft and/or range when at low level. It is the primary candidate for loiter shutdown because it has no generator. Eliminating the exhaust from engine 1 also improves visibility from the aft observer station on the port side of the aircraft.

On occasion, both outboard engines can be shut down, weight, weather, and fuel permitting. Long deep-water, coastal or border patrol missions can last over 10 hours and may include extra crew. The record time aloft for a P-3 is 21.5 hours, undertaken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 5 Squadron in 1972.

U.S. Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircrafts continued to support the search effort with two missions from NAS Sigonella. While on station the first (4th flight) aircraft coordinated its search efforts with the Egyptian Navy and located a large debris field with over 100 pieces to include approximately four pieces of large debris (approx. 10ft x 10ft). The pieces were positively identified as aircraft debris and the location and description of all debris was passed to the Egyptian Navy. The second aircraft (5th flight) did not find anything. (U.S. Navy video)