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USN Time to Bring Back the S-3 Viking?

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
NASA Glenn in Cleveland has one flying and one going through rework now. I'd say they'll be flying those two for years to come.

NASA flies a lot of unique aircraft no one else does anymore, no surprise they will keep flying the S-3 for a long time.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
AMARC is an amazing place - if you ever have a chance to spend a day there, watch an airframe go through preservation - its amazing.
 

jmcquate

Well-Known Member
Contributor
So I guess the answer to my question in no. I know that airframes from AMARK are put back into service for existing communities, specialized mission platforms for existing communities, and specialized one offs for a very specific mission (or targets). But not as yet to perform the mission (or close to it) that it was performing in the fleet prior to retirement.
 

707guy

"You can't make this shit up..."
NASA flies a lot of unique aircraft no one else does anymore, no surprise they will keep flying the S-3 for a long time.

Glad I get to still an ol' War Hoover winging through the skies every now and then.
 

KilroyUSN

Prior EM1(SS) - LTJG - VP P-8 NFO COTAC
None
Has an airframe ever been put back into fleet service after being taken out of fleet service? I can't think of one.

Maybe not back to fleet service.... but the T-39 made a come back after the Airforce took their T-1A's with them, having separated from Navy NFO flight school.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
I bet you some enterprising company buys a few S-3's on auction and converts them to firefighting just like the S-2 Stoofs of yore!
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Maybe not back to fleet service.... but the T-39 made a come back after the Airforce took their T-1A's with them, having separated from Navy NFO flight school.

They never left when the T-1's were there. More accurately the Navy brought back some extra T-39's after the hangar fire burned all but one T-47.
 

KilroyUSN

Prior EM1(SS) - LTJG - VP P-8 NFO COTAC
None
They never left when the T-1's were there. More accurately the Navy brought back some extra T-39's after the hangar fire burned all but one T-47.

I had been told that when the Airforce and the Navy merged for a short time, that they were in the process of replacing all the T-39's with T-1's. (This being after they brought back some T-39's from the hangar fire incident). I can't find any credible documentation though, so I will punt it to "live by the gouge, die by the gouge." :) Thanks for the correction.
 

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
I had been told that when the Airforce and the Navy merged for a short time, that they were in the process of replacing all the T-39's with T-1's. (This being after they brought back some T-39's from the hangar fire incident). I can't find any credible documentation though, so I will punt it to "live by the gouge, die by the gouge." :) Thanks for the correction.
Lots of folks (including me) flew T-1s in intermediate and T-39s in advanced. To my knowledges, the T-39s were never replaced by the T-1.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
Well this can't too bad of an idea. The ROK Navy (South Korea) just announced their intention to purchase 12 x S-3B's from DoD under FMS Program. DAPA is finalizing the program and a Lockheed-Martic team is identifying the BuNo's airframes, spares, and spare engines. These aircraft will join the 16 x P-3's the ROK Navy already operates.

There will be ample opportunities for former VS guys - should be fun. You will have ample opportunities to monetize your experience and service.

ROK+S-3B.jpg
 
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MIDNJAC

is clara ship
pilot
I don't have the link because I'm doing this on an iPhone and I am lazy, but the AF global strike command just (on the last year ish) brought a buff back from the grave at AMARC to active service. Guessing it was on the pickled for future use side of Davis rather than the true boneyard side, but either way, an example of a boneyard jet being brought back to full operational status.
 

exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
I don't have the link because I'm doing this on an iPhone and I am lazy, but the AF global strike command just (on the last year ish) brought a buff back from the grave at AMARC to active service. Guessing it was on the pickled for future use side of Davis rather than the true boneyard side, but either way, an example of a boneyard jet being brought back to full operational status.

I think I read that article, they talked to the pilots after they made the flight, if I recall for some reason they had to make the flight at a lower speed with the gear down?
 

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Again - bringing planes back from the boneyard isn't all that unusual. Reviving a fully retired plane is a different kettle of horses of different colors. There's no parts, training, or support infrastructure for the Hoovs any more.

There are militaries still flying Stoofs, Scooters, Phantoms, etc, and it's a nightmare keeping them up because that infrastructure and OEM support isn't there any more.

Of course, with enough money, anything is possible...but the will to find and spend the money just isn't there, or this would've happened a long time since.

 

wink

War Hoover NFO.
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Again - bringing planes back from the boneyard isn't all that unusual. Reviving a fully retired plane is a different kettle of horses of different colors. There's no parts, training, or support infrastructure for the Hoovs any more.

There are militaries still flying Stoofs, Scooters, Phantoms, etc, and it's a nightmare keeping them up because that infrastructure and OEM support isn't there any more.

Of course, with enough money, anything is possible...but the will to find and spend the money just isn't there, or this would've happened a long time since.

Training? For monkey skill aircraft operating type of stuff, from maintenance to flying, how much could have changed? The training plan exists. There are even subject matter experts still around happy to share/be employed. Back of the plane mission stuff will likely be updated for the ROK. Manufactures and contractors produce that training. Hardware, parts and support? Lockheed is on board. Sure it costs money. But the point is it is less expensive than starting from scratch or even modifying COTS. All you need is a reason. Korea has a reason and government support to proceed. The reason the US won't do it isn't that it costs a lot of money or there is no reason as much as it costs more than the pin heads that should know better think it is worth.
 
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