Random Aircraft Sightings

As we were leaving for the day, pretty much the entire crew stopped to watch this rare bird stop in.
That would be a NP-3D "Billboard Orion" They were developed for the Naval Weapons Test Station operating near NAS Point Magu for relaying test information and control signals. Lately the info I have found points more towards operation around China Lake. Listed as a "very special variant" where I have been able to find anything about them.

Pretty cool to see it in our neck of the woods. Very Rare INDEED!


OK, So more research says the VX-30 "Bloodhounds" are the only operators and there are only two of these beasties in operation in the fleet. This one is likely the one that was just released a couple weeks ago by the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast in Jacksonville Florida back to VX-30. I'm betting they're on their way home and stopped in for dinner.