Lockheed Neptune P2V-7 (147566) - VH-LRR

This is the second of of the two Lockheed Neptune P2V-7s operated by the Society. Neptune 566 was one of twenty six operated by the French armed forces from 15th April, 1969 and was allocated to French Marine Escardrille 12 Squadron. The aircraft was eventually based on the French Polynesian territorial island of Tahiti in the Pacific and was operated on patrol duties during the early 1980's in connection with the French nuclear test program Muroroa Atoll, and was retired from French marine service in 1984 and stored at Papeete International Airport, Tahiti.

In 1987 a representative from HARS attended a conference held in Tahiti and contact was made with the French Embassy in respect to obtaining a French Neptune. Upon arrival at Tahiti-FAAA (Papeete's International Airport) three were sighted, one partially burnt, one stripped of its engines and the other (147566) appeared to be intact. These three Neptune aircraft were all that remained of Escardrille 12 Squadron.

An inspection of Neptune 147566 revealed that the aircraft was in sound condition, missing some instruments and with tanks still containing 2000 lbs of fuel. The aircraft was located in an area that could easily be described as a swamp, into which it was slowly sinking.

The original intention was to acquire and dismantle the aircraft as a source of spare parts for the Society's other Neptune (273), however after viewing the documentation, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to flying condition in Tahiti and fly it back to Australia. It had flown a total of 2,430 hours and was considered to be in excellent condition, also, the aircraft had been extensively overhauled just prior to being de-commissioned in 1983.

After further negotiations the title to P2V-7 Neptune construction number 147566, serial number 7183, late of the French Aeronvale, located derelict on the island of Tahiti, was transfered to HARS. There were a number of trips to Tahiti before Neptune 566 was finally made ready by HARS members for the ferry flight to Australia. It was not until July 1989 that Neptune 147566 made the long trip from from Tahiti to Australia.

Neptune 566 was placed on the Australian civil register as VH-LRR, and, after a number of public appearances at air shows, was positioned to Tamworth for storage and care. In September 1999 the aircraft was ferried from Tamworth to Bankstown for the purpose of undergoing an extensive overhaul programme by the Society. VH-LRR was flown to the new HARS base at the Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park in January 2003 where the overhaul work continues pending return to full flying status.