Lockheed S-3B Viking
Serial Number: 160604
Markings: Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21), Naval Air Field Atsugi, Japan, 2004
The Viking was designed in the late 1960s to replace the aging S-2 Tracker as the Navy’s carrier based, fixed wing anti-submarine aircraft. Incorporating the latest electronic and acoustic submarine hunting technology in an airframe powered by two highly efficient turbofan engines the S-3A greatly increased the Navy’s ability to locate and track Soviet nuclear submarines. The first Viking flew in January 1972 and so impressed the Navy that the first production contract was issued only three months later. Anti-submarine squadron 21 was the first to use the Viking operationally in 1974. The aircraft proved to be extremely safe, reliable, and versatile. In 1981, Lockheed began upgrading the existing Vikings to incorporate newer electronic systems and the ability to fire the Harpoon anti-ship missile. Eventually all anti-submarine equipment was removed and the Viking focused anti-surface warfare, strike missions, and aerial refueling duties.
Service History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank, California and delivered to the Navy in 1978 as the 184th of 187 Vikings built. The detailed service history of this aircraft is not currently available, however a few details are known. The aircraft was assigned to Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) aboard the USS Eisenhower during Operation Desert Shield. Later it was transferred to Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) at Naval Air Field Atsugi, Japan and deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. The striking paint scheme on this aircraft was designed in 2004 for the disestablishment of VS-21. The aircraft was placed in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in 2005. In 2006 the National Museum of Naval Aviation placed it on loan to the Pima Air and Space Museum.
www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=159
The most famous of these aircraft is an S-3 Viking nicknamed "Navy One". Navy One is the call sign of any United States Navy aircraft carrying the President of the United States.
There has been only one U.S. Navy aircraft to bear this designation. An S-3 Viking, assigned to the "Blue Wolves" of VS-35, transported President George W. Bush to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln stationed off the coast of San Diego, California on May 1, 2003. The pilot was Commander Skip Lussier, then the Executive Officer of VS-35, and the flight officer was Lieutenant Ryan Phillips.
That S-3, that served as "Navy One", was retired from service and placed on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida on July 17, 2003.
Technical Specifications
Wingspan 68 ft 8 in
Length 53 ft 4 in
Height 22 ft 9 in
Weight 52,539 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed 518 mph
Service Ceiling 40,000 ft
Range 2,645 miles
Engines 2 GE TF-34-GE-400B 9,275 lbs thrust each
Crew 4
Lockheed S-3B Viking
Serial Number: 160604
Markings: Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21), Naval Air Field Atsugi, Japan, 2004
The Viking was designed in the late 1960s to replace the aging S-2 Tracker as the Navy’s carrier based, fixed wing anti-submarine aircraft. Incorporating the latest electronic and acoustic submarine hunting technology in an airframe powered by two highly efficient turbofan engines the S-3A greatly increased the Navy’s ability to locate and track Soviet nuclear submarines. The first Viking flew in January 1972 and so impressed the Navy that the first production contract was issued only three months later. Anti-submarine squadron 21 was the first to use the Viking operationally in 1974. The aircraft proved to be extremely safe, reliable, and versatile. In 1981, Lockheed began upgrading the existing Vikings to incorporate newer electronic systems and the ability to fire the Harpoon anti-ship missile. Eventually all anti-submarine equipment was removed and the Viking focused anti-surface warfare, strike missions, and aerial refueling duties.
Service History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank, California and delivered to the Navy in 1978 as the 184th of 187 Vikings built. The detailed service history of this aircraft is not currently available, however a few details are known. The aircraft was assigned to Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) aboard the USS Eisenhower during Operation Desert Shield. Later it was transferred to Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) at Naval Air Field Atsugi, Japan and deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. The striking paint scheme on this aircraft was designed in 2004 for the disestablishment of VS-21. The aircraft was placed in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in 2005. In 2006 the National Museum of Naval Aviation placed it on loan to the Pima Air and Space Museum.
www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=159
The most famous of these aircraft is an S-3 Viking nicknamed "Navy One". Navy One is the call sign of any United States Navy aircraft carrying the President of the United States.
There has been only one U.S. Navy aircraft to bear this designation. An S-3 Viking, assigned to the "Blue Wolves" of VS-35, transported President George W. Bush to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln stationed off the coast of San Diego, California on May 1, 2003. The pilot was Commander Skip Lussier, then the Executive Officer of VS-35, and the flight officer was Lieutenant Ryan Phillips.
That S-3, that served as "Navy One", was retired from service and placed on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida on July 17, 2003.
Technical Specifications
Wingspan 68 ft 8 in
Length 53 ft 4 in
Height 22 ft 9 in
Weight 52,539 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed 518 mph
Service Ceiling 40,000 ft
Range 2,645 miles
Engines 2 GE TF-34-GE-400B 9,275 lbs thrust each
Crew 4