RAAF showcases seven-week restoration of Lockheed P2V-7 aircraft gate guard

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) demonstrated how it gave its iconic Lockheed P2V-7 aircraft a makeover.

The Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune A89-280 aircraft has stood guard over the RAAF Base in Townsville, Queensland since 2012. The iconic maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft flew from Townsville with 10 Squadron from 1962 until the late 1970s, with one of its final missions being to locate the wreck of HMS Pandora, which sank on the outer Great Barrier Reef in 1791.

For seven weeks, a team of 12 reservists from the Air Force History and Heritage’s Static Display Aircraft Support Section (SDASS) worked in Townsville’s Hangar 75 to repair climatic damage to the Neptune’s structure, remove corrosion, treat exposed surfaces and apply environmentally-friendly paint.

Two cranes return Neptune A89-280 back onto its plinth at the RAAF Base Townsville entrance (RAAF)The A89-280 was the final Neptune delivered to the Air Force in May 1962 as part of a 12-aircraft fleet operated by 10 Squadron out of RAAF Base Townsville in maritime patrol, surveillance, and anti-shipping and submarine roles until 1977.In 2011, Cyclone Yasi caused significant damage to both the A89-280 and the A89-272 which were on display in different locations at the base. SDASS carried out major repair and restoration work in 2012 to rebuild A89-280 from the damaged Neptunes.Warrant Officer David Dowe, who was in charge of SDASS, said that restoring the A89-280 was one of the biggest projects the group has undertaken. Dowe said his team worked long shifts throughout the restoration schedule in order to return the aircraft to the base’s front gate in time for a Remembrance Day (November 11, 2024) deadline.

“We have restored and refurbished Caribous, Canberras and an F-111 here and there, but nothing this big,” Dowe said.

“It’s such a beast and it was a hell of a long way down to the hangar floor looking from the highest level of the scaffolding. We knew we had a job in front of us when we realised that it was very lengthy from nose to tail when it rolled into the hangar,” Dowe added. 

The Neptune aircraft under tow to a hangar on RAAF Base Townsville in late October (RAAF)Director of Air Force Heritage Projects Group Captain Andrew Tatnell said the project team overcame many challenges to rejuvenate the ageing aircraft and erase 12 years of oxidization and corrosion caused by Townsville’s salt-laden sea breezes.

“I’m very proud of the team’s skill and dedication.Successfully completing this project on time was an outstanding achievement,” Tanell said.The post RAAF showcases seven-week restoration of Lockheed P2V-7 aircraft gate guard appeared first on AeroTime.

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