Rare Orion - This US Navy Oceanographic Office Onan seen recently at Perth is the one and only RP-3O model produced, being converted from a P-3C airframe for·Project Magnet'. Operated by the elite Navy 'special duties' squadron VXN-8 home-based at Patuxent River, Maryland, this Orion circumnavigates the world several times each year plotting variations in the earth's magnetic field. After flying survey runs from Perth, the aircraft departed for Hobart-via Antarctica! VXN-8 Squadron aircraft are among the very few in the US military permitted colourful nose art, all featuring characters from the Roadrunner cartoon series. The RP-3O is named 'Paisano Tres' (Countryman - the 3rd) this name having been previously carried on two 'Project Magnet' Lockheed C- 121 Super Constellations. So next time you are looking at those Magnetic Variation lines on your aeronautical charts, think of 'Project Magnet'. (Geoff Goodall)