Cockpit Collection - Moffett Field Museum

Outdoor Exhibit

P-3 Orion Cockpit

Maritime Patrol Aircraft Cockpit

The P-3 Orion was a long-range maritime patrol aircraft used by the U.S. Navy for anti-submarine warfare, ocean surveillance, reconnaissance, and other missions. This preserved cockpit allows visitors to see the flight deck of one of the Navy's most recognizable patrol aircraft.

At a Glance

Role: Maritime patrol
Location: Outdoor Airpark
Aircraft Family: Lockheed P-3 Orion
Access: Preserved cockpit exhibit

About This Cockpit

The P-3 Orion was developed from the Lockheed L-188 Electra airliner and adapted into a military maritime patrol aircraft. Its cockpit was designed for long-duration missions that required pilots to operate alongside a larger mission crew responsible for navigation, sensors, communications, and anti-submarine operations.

Moffett Connection

Moffett Field had a long association with U.S. Navy patrol aviation, making the P-3 Orion closely connected to the broader history represented by the museum.

Indoor Exhibit

Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier Cockpit

Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing Aircraft Cockpit

The AV-8A Harrier was an early operational vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft. Its unique propulsion system allowed it to operate from locations that did not require a conventional runway.

At a Glance

Role: V/STOL attack aircraft
Location: Indoors Stop 9
Aircraft Family: Harrier
Access: Preserved cockpit exhibit

About This Cockpit

The Harrier's cockpit was built around the demands of vertical and short takeoff and landing flight. In addition to conventional flight controls, the pilot had to manage the aircraft's thrust-vectoring system, which redirected engine exhaust through rotating nozzles.

Moffett Connection

The Harrier cockpit helps the museum show how aircraft designers solved very different aviation problems, from long-range patrol aircraft such as the P-3 to compact V/STOL combat aircraft.