P-3C Orion airplane modelThe first production Orion was flown on April 15, 1961, with initial deliveries of the airplane being made to the Navy on August 13, 1962. Retaining the basic airframe structure of the Electra, this new airplane differed by having a fuselage shortened by 7 ft. 4 in. and modified to incorporate a large weapons bay together with new avionics and utility systems. Mines, depth bombs, torpedoes, or nuclear devices can be accommodated in the weapons bay,