Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune  N14447         (c/n   826-8010)

                                          

                                                 Lockheed Neptunes made excellent fire fighting vehicles.  As a matter of fact, I lived in Diamond
                                                 Bar, California in the late1960s and had my house saved by a P2V borate bomber.  This shot was
                                                 taken at Fox Field, Lancaster, in California's Mojave Desert in the late 1990s.  The aircraft was (and
                                                 still is) owned by Neptune Aviation, based in Missoula, Montana.   It was built in 1955 and was an
                                                 ex-RCAF machine, serial number 24110.  (Original BuAer 135587)  They were later re-designated
                                                 from P2V-7 to P-2H.  I understand it is still registered to Neptune Aviation although must surely be
                                                 slated for retirement by now.  Having said that, Tony Hancock indicates it was at Missoula as late
                                                 as 2003, still in good shape and resplendent with an all red fin and rudder.......