P2V-5 Neptune Model

Our Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune is a replica wood scale model of the Lockheed P2V-5 which was one of the first operational aircraft fitted with both piston and jet engines. Neptune variant produced by Lockheed. It was powered by R-3350-32W and J-34 engines. It had lower drag wingtip tanks. The Neptunes were developed as land based patrol bombers and the first Neptunes were fitted with both piston and jet engines. Prior to the P-3 Orion the Neptune was anti-submarine patrol aircraft. To save weight and complexity of two separate fuel systems, the Westinghouse J34 jet engines on P2Vs burned the 115-145 Avgas fuel of the piston engines, instead of jet fuel. The jet pods were fitted with intake doors that remained closed when the J-34s were not running. This prevented windmilling, allowing for economical piston-engine-only long-endurance search and patrol operations. In normal US Navy operations, the jet engines were run at full power (97%) to assure takeoff, then shut down upon reaching a safe altitude. The jets were also started and kept running at flight idle during low-altitude (500-foot (150 m) during the day and 1,000-foot (300 m) at night) anti-submarine and/or anti-shipping operations as a safety measure should one of the radials develop problems. Normal crew access was via a ladder on the aft bulkhead of the nosewheel well to a hatch on the left side of the wheel well, then forward to the observer nose, or up through another hatch to the main deck. There was also a hatch in the floor of the aft fuselage, near the sonobuoy chutes. The P2V-5 Neptune model is an authentic, extraordinary replica of the original aircraft that has been faithfully reproduced with kiln dried Philippine mahogany wood. Each model is meticulously carved, hand sanded and painted following exact blueprint details of the original aircraft. The result is a handsome, wood airplane sculpture to be admired and enjoyed. It also arrives with an attractive wood base for display.