On Friday 30 November 2018 the RAAF celebrated 50 years of operating the Lockheed P-3 Orion. They commenced in 1968 with the P-3B before upgrading to the P-3C in 1978, and finally the AP-3C in 2002.
The Orion fleet has been based at RAAF Edinburgh in Adelaide's north for the entire history of service. To celebrate the occasion, a flight of three AP-3C Orions performed a flyover of Adelaide and surrounding areas.
Initially planned for a flight of four, unfortunately Trident 3 (A9-665) become unserviceable before takeoff, resulting in Trident 4 (A9-661) taking its position as Trident 3 for the flyover.
© Brett Pulford Photography