# This is a C-130 and not a P-3, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563 "2014-03-25T23:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/1 "2014-03-25T23:39:25Z")
From today’s MSN news. It was reported as the latter; one of the Australian planes searching for MH370. [http://sin.stb.s-msn.com/i/A2/A7C1D4DA2D4AAE32F01D9E88B7B3F\_h374\_w622\_m2\_q80\_cZRqXsuhE.jpg](http://sin.stb.s-msn.com/i/A2/A7C1D4DA2D4AAE32F01D9E88B7B3F_h374_w622_m2_q80_cZRqXsuhE.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/2 "2014-03-25T23:43:40Z")
Nope, thats a P-3 Orion. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/3 "2014-03-25T23:52:25Z")
The easiest way to tell is that the C-130 has its wings above the fuselage, while that one has its wings below. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/4 "2014-03-25T23:53:26Z")
Gawk. Been looking at pics of military planes since I was a kid. How can my knowledge fail me now? ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/5 "2014-03-25T23:55:17Z")
IIRC Australia has had both types out searching at times so I could see how the news could mess things up. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/6 "2014-03-25T23:58:36Z")
That angle’s not a particularly forgiving one; you pretty much have to know the high-wing/low-wing difference. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/7 "2014-03-26T00:22:24Z")
Also, while both planes use the same engines, the P-3’s inlets are above the wing not below like the C-130s. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/8 "2014-03-26T00:41:44Z")
Is that to stop spray being ingested while flying low over the ocean? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/9 "2014-03-26T00:52:29Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > Is that to stop spray being ingested while flying low over the ocean? No, the P-3 was derived from the old [Lockheed 188 Electra](http://www.aerofiles.com/lock-L188.jpg), which also had its [inlets above the wing](http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2006-10/27/1339.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/10 "2014-03-26T01:16:15Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > No, the P-3 was derived from the old [Lockheed 188 Electra](http://www.aerofiles.com/lock-L188.jpg), which also had its [inlets above the wing](http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2006-10/27/1339.jpg). The original YP-3A was based upon the Lockheed, however, the P-3 itself has an entirely different engine, the Allison T-56, the same engine as the C-130. Reference: > **[Lockheed P-3 Orion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-3_Orion)** > > The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engined, turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner; it is easily distinguished from the Electra by its distinctive tail stinger or "MAD" boom, used for the magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) of submarines. > Over the years, the P-3 has seen numerous design developments, most notably in its electronics packages. Numerous navi... ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/11 "2014-03-26T05:23:13Z")
Do I remember correctly that the Electra had some early wing problems? That they were actually too stiff? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/12 "2014-03-26T15:00:46Z")
Electras had a problem where the engine vibrations excited a resonant frequency of the wing and the outboard wing broke off, with catastrophic results. They finally stiffened the engine mounts and that did the trick. Wikipedia has a good article. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/13 "2014-03-26T20:06:12Z")
That picture also clears up the question of “Who wears short shorts?” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/14 "2014-03-26T21:16:00Z")
It’s an easy mistake to make. A P-3 looks for survivors in the water. A C-130 gunship makes sure there aren’t any. =d&r= ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/15 "2014-03-26T21:31:43Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Electras had a problem where the engine vibrations excited a resonant frequency of the wing and the outboard wing broke off :smack: I am not an aircraft designer, but I would say that, in terms of aircraft design, this is quite a serious flaw. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/16 "2014-03-26T22:02:32Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > It’s an easy mistake to make. > A P-3 looks for survivors in the water. > A C-130 gunship makes sure there aren’t any. > =d&r= Nope sorry. The P-3 looks for survivors. The C-130 pushes life rafts off the rear loading ramp which land on the people in the water ensuring no survivors. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/17 "2014-03-26T22:53:27Z")
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say its a P-3. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/18 "2014-03-26T22:59:09Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > Also, while both planes use the same engines, the P-3’s inlets are above the wing not below like the C-130s. > [@lisiate](#): > > Is that to stop spray being ingested while flying low over the ocean? If by “inlets” you mean the engine fairings then it would be to give enough propellor clearance from the ground. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/19 "2014-03-27T14:48:27Z")
It is a P-3. The C-130 is high wing and the cockpit glass is totally different. Here is a pic of a front view of a [Herc](http://www.littlerock.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060612-F-9032T-258.jpg). Same engines, and depending on which version of Herc, same props. Canada has a slightly different version of the P-3 that includes the ASW suite from the S-3 Viking that they call the Aurora. Aus and Can use P-3 and C-130 for maritime SAR missions among other things. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-a-c-130-and-not-a-p-3-right/684563/20 "2014-03-27T15:15:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m gonna go out on a limb and say its a P-3. “…you sunk my gun-ship!” 😃