A BIT OF HISTORY: "...'Pelicans' attend P-8A Poseidon welcome ceremony by By Lt. j.g. Michael Dark , VP-45 Public Affairs Officer - Thu., July 29, 2010 - 11:18 AM..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [30JUL2010]

The VP-45 "Pelicans" recently flew a select group of aviators from NAS Jacksonville, Florida to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland to get up close to the future of the U.S. Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance force - the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft.

The Pelicans' P-3C Orion, piloted by VP-45 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michael Doherty, carried several distinguished passengers, including Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven (CPRW-11) Capt. Mark Turner, CPRW-11 Deputy Commodore Capt. William Wheeler and VP-10 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Rub Patrick to the P-8 welcome ceremony.

The event officially welcomed the P-8 to NAS Patuxent River, where it will commence the flight-testing phase for the new aircraft.

After arriving in Maryland, the passengers and crew were transported to the hanger that hosted the welcome ceremony and the new P-8A aircraft. The event began with welcoming remarks by Capt. Michael Moran, program manager for both the P-3 and the P-8.

Guest speakers at the ceremony included Rear Adm. Steven Eastburg, program executive officer Air Anti-submarine Warfare, Boeing Vice President Robert Feldmann and Rear Adm. Bill Moran, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group. Remarks included a brief history of the Poseidon aircraft, and the impact the P-8 will have on the future of the Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force. The ceremony concluded with a cake cutting.

The first P-8A aircraft (side number 951), also known as T-1, will begin the flight testing phase for the new aircraft at NAS Patuxent River. Later this year, the Navy will receive two more P-8A test aircraft from Boeing to continue flight testing and begin mission testing. The first operational P-8 is scheduled to reach the fleet in 2013.

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...VP-45 Wins CPRW-11 ASW Roadeo - Thursday, July 15, 2010..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [17JUL2010]

A crew of the VP-45 "Pelicans" recently visited the University of Texas (UT) at Austin as Naval Aviation's representative to the university's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program.

The four-day mission was to inform future officers at UT of the options available in Naval Aviation, specifically the career opportunities offered within the maritime patrol and reconnaissance community.

The Pelicans held an on-campus brief, followed by an aircraft tour at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the NROTC students, where they described the P-3 Orion's mission capabilities and the role of maritime patrol in global operations. Each member of the aircrew provided their unique mission perspective - from piloting the P-3 to utilizing the onboard sensors to conduct its primary mission of anti-submarine warfare.

During the tour, students took an exterior walk-around and used the opportunity to ask questions concerning the P-3 airframe, as well as armaments.

"Most of the questions focused on the MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) boom used to assist in locating submarines. They also asked about the 'holes' in the bottom of the fuselage from where the sonobuoys are launched," explained Lt. j.g. Johnny Sadler, one of the VP-45 pilots.

During an afternoon social, cadets asked numerous questions, from the difficulty of flight school to job satisfaction within the maritime patrol community.

The visit was a great success for both the University of Texas NROTC and the Pelicans of VP-45.

Stated Sadler, "A majority of the students were still unsure what career path they might choose as a naval officer. Hopefully, our visit provided the students insight into the exciting arena of naval aviation and to becoming future aviators in the maritime patrol and reconnaissance community."

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-45 Educates Texas NROTC Students by LT(jg) Jeff Riggs, VP-45 PAO - Thursday, July 15, 2010..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [17JUL2010]

A crew of the VP-45 "Pelicans" recently visited the University of Texas (UT) at Austin as Naval Aviation's representative to the university's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program.

The four-day mission was to inform future officers at UT of the options available in Naval Aviation, specifically the career opportunities offered within the maritime patrol and reconnaissance community.

The Pelicans held an on-campus brief, followed by an aircraft tour at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the NROTC students, where they described the P-3 Orion's mission capabilities and the role of maritime patrol in global operations. Each member of the aircrew provided their unique mission perspective - from piloting the P-3 to utilizing the onboard sensors to conduct its primary mission of anti-submarine warfare.

During the tour, students took an exterior walk-around and used the opportunity to ask questions concerning the P-3 airframe, as well as armaments.

"Most of the questions focused on the MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) boom used to assist in locating submarines. They also asked about the 'holes' in the bottom of the fuselage from where the sonobuoys are launched," explained Lt. j.g. Johnny Sadler, one of the VP-45 pilots.

During an afternoon social, cadets asked numerous questions, from the difficulty of flight school to job satisfaction within the maritime patrol community.

The visit was a great success for both the University of Texas NROTC and the Pelicans of VP-45.

Stated Sadler, "A majority of the students were still unsure what career path they might choose as a naval officer. Hopefully, our visit provided the students insight into the exciting arena of naval aviation and to becoming future aviators in the maritime patrol and reconnaissance community."

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...'Pelicans' return to Cedar Hills Elementary for Junior Achievement Day - Thu., June 17, 2010..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [18JUN2010]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...AWV2 Brian Wilkerson of VP-45 talks about his job with students from Cedar Hill Elementary - Thu., June 17, 2010..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [18JUN2010]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...CDR Michael Doherty's wife, Lynn, pins on the command at sea insignia, designating him VP-45's Commanding Officer during the squadron's change of command ceremony May 14 - Thu., May 27, 2010..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [28MAY2010]

Photograph Caption: Photo courtesy of VP-26 The VP-26 "Tridents" are arriving at the their new home at NAS Jacksonville, Florida this week. The squadron is the last patrol squadron to transition from VP-26.

The "Tridents" of VP-26 are in the homestretch of a six-month deployment before returning to their new duty station at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. As the last squadron to finalize its homeport transition from VP-26; the men and women of VP-26 look forward to making their new home in Hangar 1000 and joining their sister squadrons in Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven (CPRW-11).

Aircraft and crews will begin the redeployment process this week, with all Tridents scheduled to be home from deployment by the first week in June. Over the past five and a half months, Team Trident has been flying a variety of missions from three widespread locations.

With its near global deployed presence, the squadron has supported counter-drug operations in Central America, maritime security operations in the Mediterranean, and anti-piracy and regional stabilization efforts in the Horn of Africa.

It has supported Operations Unified Response and Active Endeavor, the USS Eisenhower Strike Group, and has participated in numerous multinational exercises including Noble Manta, Brilliant Mariner and Caya Green.

"VP-26 has a long standing tradition of excellence. We look forward to being a part of the CPRW-11 Team and continuing that tradition in our new duty station," said Lt. Cmdr. Sam Gage, officer in charge of the squadron's El Salvador detachment. "Our Sailors look forward to making a new home in NAS Jacksonville, Florida and contributing to the local community."

VP-26 History Photo courtesy of VP-26 Members of VP-26 gather in front of their P-3 Orion aircraft while on detachment in Djibouti, Africa.

"The experience has been priceless," said Lt. j.g. Nick Grow, a tactical coordinator who has flown in all three deployed locations as well as several detachment sites. "Flying a variety of missions has enabled crews to hone their tactical skills and familiarity with multiple geographic areas."

On April 27, Cmdr. Jeff Draeger assumed command of VP-26, relieving Cmdr. Mike Parker. Cmdr. Noel Dahlke joined the squadron on deployment as the new executive officer. Spending time in all three deployed locations, Draeger saw firsthand how the squadron met requirements and overcame a variety of challenges in each site while maintaining its overall unit cohesiveness across so many miles and time zones. The teamwork forged by this demanding and dynamic deployment provides a strong foundation on which the Tridents will build during their upcoming inter-deployment readiness cycle.

"Our old and new neighbors in Brunswick and NAS Jacksonville, Florida as well as our families can be extremely proud of what this squadron has done during its latest turn in the deployment barrel," said Draeger.

"While deployed we have made a positive difference for our loved ones back home, fellow Americans, and people around the world. We look forward to doing the same in NAS Jacksonville, Florida."

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Down For Nearly Three Weeks by LT(jg) Watt (Pilot with VP-45) - Navy Approach Magazine - March/April 2010 - Page 24 and 25 - ..." [23APR2010]

As with any product that has been around for decades, aircraft develop certain commonplace discrepancies. Most Orion maintenance-action forms (MAFs) tend to be discrepancies a senior maintainer probably has seen several times.

We had an airspeed problem during a training flight involving multiple touch-and-goes. During takeoff in the P-3C, power usually is set by the flight engineer after brakes are released. The copilot monitors airspeed during takeoff roll and makes three calls: "80 knots," "refusal," and "rotate." The copilot calls out "80 knots" to signal the pilot to check his airspeed and verify sufficient power is set for takeoff. Rotate speeds in the P-3C vary from 115 to 130 knots, so this checkpoint provides a safe buffer to abort the takeoff.

At training weights, rotate speed is 115 knots.

After our initial takeoff, the copilot—the instructor pilot in this case—said the aircraft was slow during the climb to pattern altitude. The pilot looked down at his indicator and saw 160 knots, the normal climb-out speed to downwind. The copilot stated his airspeed indicator showed 145 knots. The maximum allowable difference between pilot and copilot airspeed indicators in the P-3 is five knots. After some discussion at pattern altitude and more cross-checks to verify the problem, the instructor pilot landed the aircraft and returned to the line.

The airspeed-indicator system uses both pitot (ram air) and static (ambient air) inputs. Initial troubleshooting focused on the dual pitot probes located below the nose radome. During climb and descent, where the airspeed discrepancy was noted, there is an angular difference in the airflow through the probes, as compared to level flight. This disrupted flow of air is negligible under normal circumstances; however, an internal problem with the probe could interfere with airspeed indications.

Consequently, the pilot and copilot pitot probes were replaced, and the system operated normally.

The following flight also reported an airspeed split.

Maintenance personnel determined some particulate matter could be in the system, so they purged it, using drain ports located in the aircraft's belly. They found some bits of Teflon tape (which seals the connections) in the lines that feed ram air to the instruments. The aircraft airspeed system checked normal on deck and once again was released for flight.

ALONG WITH THE RECURRING AIRSPEED split, the next crew noted that the copilot side airspeed seemed to "ratchet" in conjunction with an altimeter split of around 150 feet, and then would eventually disappear.

This gripe pointed toward the static side of the system, because the altimeter only uses a static input. After removing components connected to that system, mechs cleared the lines with pressurized air, similar to the procedure used for the pitot system. They found five different leaks in the line. The static system, however, operates on a vacuum, rather than on pressure, so the air-data test set the maintainers use for troubleshooting was unable to find all of the leaks. A special piece of equipment, used to amplify small sounds like air leaks, was flown to the deployed location to find the last few holes. After we patched the tiny holes, the system operated normally, and the aircraft returned to fully mission-capable status.

Pilots learn early on in flight training the most challenging and unique phases of flight are takeoffs and landings.

When the aircraft configuration is being changed, along with increasing or decreasing airspeed, pilots must fly close to stall speeds. P-3 rotate speeds can be as little as five percent above minimum air-control speed (Vmcair).

In the above case, had there been a problem with one (or two) engines during takeoff, the aircraft would have been only 10 knots above Vmc-air, and the airspeed indicators would have shown a 15-knot difference.

Sometimes it's easy to overlook the effort that goes into keeping a 20-, or 30-, or even 40-year-old aircraft flying. When difficult problems such as this pitot-static discrepancy are solved, we definitely appreciate the maintainers.

A BIT OF HISTORY: 100414-N-4716P-025 HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (April 14, 2010) "...Gas Turbine System Technician (Electronic) Francisco Zapata, colors with a patient at the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital hematology and oncology ward. Sailors from Navy Recruiting District Miami gave Navy ball caps and other items donated by the Pelicans of VP-45, based in Jacksonville, Fla., to children at the hospital as part of the "Caps for Kids" program. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gabe Puello/Released)..." WebSite: NavyNews http://www.navy.mil/ [17APR2010]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...'Pelicans' Perform Burial at Sea - VP-45 Public Affairs - Thursday, April 8, 2010..." WebSite: JaxAirNews http://jacksonville.com/ [09APR2010]

VP-45 "Pelicans" committed the remains of one of their own, retired Lt. Cmdr. Billy Colvin, to the sea during an in-flight burial from a P-3C off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. March 13. Colvin died in August 2008 from a sudden illness at the age of 59.

"Unto almighty God, we commend our departed brother as we commit his body to the deep." With those words, CPRW-11 Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Atticus Taylor released Colvin's ashes at 1,500 feet above the Gulf of Mexico from a P-3C Orion assigned to VP-45.

Colvin was born in Detroit in 1949 and raised in Geraldine, Ala. He enlisted in the Navy in 1968 as a P-3 acoustic operator. He attended Auburn University, earning his commission upon graduation. Colvin returned to the P-3 community as a naval flight officer with tours at VP-31, VP-17 and VP-30, culminating in his department head tour at VP-45.

In October 1993, Colvin retired and moved his family to Pensacola, where his wife Kathy and daughter Tina still reside.

Early on March 13, two VP-45 crews gathered in Hangar 1000 to fly two aircraft to NAS Pensacola, Florida.

"We weren't taking any chances of not reaching Pensacola," stated VP-45 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Andrew Smith, who flew on the lead aircraft.

After the one-hour flight west to NAS Pensacola, Florida, both P-3s touched down and taxied to where the Colvin family was watching from the tarmac. "Two planes for my Billy," exclaimed Colvin's widow, Kathy. "How could I ask for anything better?"

A brief ground ceremony, officiated by Taylor, followed a meet-and-greet and aircraft tour with the aircrews and Colvin's family.

Afterwards, the lead airplane received the remains and departed southbound towards open water, standard behavior for a P-3 involved in a unique, non-standard mission.

Twenty miles out to sea, the plane commander announced, "all hands bury the dead." All nonessential crewmembers gathered in the back of the P-3 for a final goodbye.

After the reading of the committal by Smith, Colvin's ashes were released via the plane's free-fall chute, normally reserved for dropping of ordinance such as buoys and smoke signals. Three bells rang, signifying the completion of the ceremony.

Returning to NAS Pensacola, Florida, Smith presented Colvin's family with a flag and a letter expressing his condolences for their loss.

"I couldn't think of a better way to honor Billy, to have his final flight aboard a P-3," said Mrs. Colvin.

A BIT OF HISTORY: 100316-N-4716P-029 TAMPA, Fla. (March 16, 2010) "...Master Chief Machinist Mate Randy Huckaba, chief of the boat of the guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728), plays "Battleship" with a patient at the St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. Sailors assigned to Florida and members of the Navy Band Southeast contemporary entertainment ensemble, Pride, spent an afternoon during a "Caps for Kids" program visit, playing games, singing songs and giving away Navy ball caps and memorabilia donated by the Pelicans of VP-45 based in Jacksonville, Fla. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gabe Puello/Released)..." WebSite: NavyNews http://www.navy.mil/ [19MAR2010]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...VP-45 Welcomes Three 'Pelecan' Heroes - Thursday, March 11, 2010..." WebSite: JaxNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [04MAR2010]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...VP-45 Announces 'Safety Pro' - Thursday February 25, 2010..." WebSite: JaxNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [26FEB2010]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-45 History "...VP-45 Sailor Attains Milestong (AWF2 Greta Hines) - Thursday January 7, 2010...Squadrons Mentioned: VP-5, VP-8, VP-16 and VP-62..." WebSite: JaxNews http://www.jaxairnews.com/ [08JAN2010]

"VP-45 History Summary Page"

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