Some additional info:
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> N43RF
> "Miss Piggy"
> c/n 285A-5633
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Lockheed WP-3D-165-LO Orion
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ex-BuNo 159875
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I'm not 100% certain, but I think the USN only acted as the buying agent and that the two WP-3Ds were not ex-USN operational aircraft that were subsequently transferred to NOAA (the same way the USAF is the buying agent for C-130s for the USN, USMC, and USCG).
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- to NOAA March 17, 1976 as N43RF "Miss Piggy"; damaged May 1, 2000 at Galveston when several smaller aircraft blown by storm winds crashed into it; repaired. (source : Joe Baugher)
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Jeff
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