Profile: AP-3C Orion

After completing 10 years of service in the Middle East in 2012, the AP-3C Orion aircraft, which is considered the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world, is now based at the RAAF Base Edinburgh and is deployed for many high-profile missions. While it is set to retire soon, being replaced by the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the “quiet achiever” jet has a long career involved in operations Resolute (2006), Gateway (1980) and Solania (1988), supporting border protection and fisheries patrols within South-East Asia and Pacific regions. Mixed emotions of its retirement have continued to circulate, as many pilots say waving goodbye to the aircraft feels like saying goodbye to an old friend.