In 1954, the U. S. Air Force acquired seven P2V-7U patrol bombers from the Navy to be converted for use as radio trainers and reconnaissance aircraft.ò These planes bore the serial numbers 54-4037 through 54-4043.ò Although the existence of the RB-69A was acknowledged by the Air Force, details concerning the electronic equipment aboard was classified.ò This version of the P2V-7 Neptune carried more equipment than its Navy counterpart.
The first XP2V-1 flew on May 15, 1945, and the Navy ordered production following the successful testing program.ò So versatile was the design, that the plane, and later developments of it, dominated the Navy patrol bomber inventory for more than (2) decades.ò Of the more than 900 built for the Navy, all have been retired from active service.
The aircraft on display is a Navy P2V-7 and has been marked as a RB-69A.ò It was acquired from storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in 1984 for display at the Museum of Aviation.
SPECIFICATIONS
Serial # :
147954
Wingspan:
103 feet, 10 inches
Cost:
Length:
91 feet, 4 inches
Max. Speed:
356 mph
Height:
29 feet, 4 inches
Range:
3,800 miles
Weight:
75,000 lbs.
Service Ceiling:
31,100 feet
Engines:
(2) Wright R-3350 engines, with 3,700 hp each, and (2) J-34 Jet Pods with 3
