K25 slide scan. Built 1962 as 150510 for USN. Spanish Air Force P.3-5 1979. Hawkins and Powers 1990, stored Greybull. Aero Union N917AU 2004.

Unfortunately the US Forest Service terminated Aero Union's airtanker contract less than a year after this photo was taken, on 29 July 2011, due to alleged safety violations. All their magnificent P-3 Aerostar airtankers, including this former Spanish Orion (ex P.3-5), were withdrawn from use and stored at McClellan, Sacramento, CA.

US Navy P-3A bu 150510 was transferred to the Spanish Air Force . On return, it was sold to Hawkins & Powers in 1996 for parts. Aero Union bought the aircraft in 2004 and converted it to a P-3 Aerostar. With Aero Union's bankruptcy in 2011, it was stored at Chico and since acquired by United Aeronautical Corp when they purchased the MAFFS 2 fire fighting system.

Awaiting conversion to air tanker N917AU.

Aircraft would later become N917AU

This Orion must be lost. In the middle of a snow storm and miles aways from the sea.

Former BuNo 150510 and Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire). To Aero Union Corp Oct 2004 as N917AU/#17.