WHALE of a tale ... the A-3 Skywarrior returns to Whidbey !!!

[A4sForever]

This particular Whale started life as a photo-recce bird when she joined the Navy in December, 1958. She was at NATC in Sept.-Dec. '59 for carrier suitability trials and was later modified by Grumman as a NRA-3B with a 'big nose'. Assigned to NMC/PMTC until 10/90, she was then bailed to Hughes and later Raytheon. In her later years, she was active as testbed aircraft and operated out of Van Nuys Airport before her final flight.

The biggest problems encountered in getting her to NUW were the foreseeable and inevitable mind-numbing battles against mountains of red tape, regulations, and of course -- the financing. Always the money ...

The addition of this Whale goes a long way toward rounding out the history of NAVAIR @ NAS Whidbey.

 

[BigIron]

Next question. Any idea why there are 3 Navy 53's at NUW? Between these three behemoths, the existing P-3s, and the whale that just showed up - the whole Whidbey ramp is growing at the waist line a bit

Third Fleet Joint Exercise: Trident Fury.

 

[highside7r]

Cockpit vid uploaded.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

I was leaving work when it did a break (kinda) over the field. I didn't know it was flying in that day and it took me by surprise. It was a pretty cool thing to see.

 

[Cron]

Cockpit vid uploaded.

Hey, it's got a yoke! Somewhat surprised about that...And look at all that room in the back!

 

[A4sForever]

Hey, it's got a yoke! Somewhat surprised about that...

Yeah, but at least they don't have ejection seats ...

 

[Malo83]

http://a3skywarrior.com/index.php?nid=100089&s=hm

 

[MasterBates]

Yeah, but at least they don't have ejection seats ...

What is an ejection seat?

Sent via my HTC EVO 4G

 

[Recovering LSO]

I was leaving work when it did a break (kinda) over the field. I didn't know it was flying in that day and it took me by surprise. It was a pretty cool thing to see.

The Whale looked good in the break - especially compared to what I've seen some P-3s try to pull off When you guys were allowed to come in for the overhead.

 

[A4sForever]

The Whale looked good in the break ...

Ditto ... looked good goin' by me. I thought she looked pretty 'snappy', all things considered. (old ... PR event ... last of the line ... don't want to 'overdo it' ... many eyes on her .... etc., etc. )

I guess that was YOU in the Queer A-6 at the hold short for 13 ... (clip above of the flight from SoCal -- the short final part??)

 

[MasterBates]

Ditto ... looked good goin' by me. I thought she looked pretty 'snappy', all things considered.

Sent via my HTC EVO 4G

 

[scoolbubba]

The Whale looked good in the break - especially compared to what I've seen some P-3s try to pull off When you guys were allowed to come in for the overhead.

What's a break? Is that the maneuver where our wings fold up at 1000 feet?

 

[Fog]

I guess that was YOU in the Queer A-6 at the hold short for 13

Now, now A-4s, that's a word we don't use in the new, action Navy. You've obviously failed to qual in the new sensitivity training.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

The Whale looked good in the break - especially compared to what I've seen some P-3s try to pull off When you guys were allowed to come in for the overhead.

I've never seen a P-3 attempt a break. By the time I got to the community the NAVAIR restrictions were already put in place. But I think I coulda beat that.

 

[Recovering LSO]

I've never seen a P-3 attempt a break. By the time I got to the community the NAVAIR restrictions were already put in place. But I think I coulda beat that.

well, p-3s used to be allowed to come in for the break. and it was terrible if you were already in the pattern or trying to follow 'em into the break. nothing personal, just a big ass turn radius with marginal alt control.

the whale looked good.