S-3 Viking - NAS Pensacola, FL
N 30° 21.027 W 087° 18.339
16R E 470624 N 3357658
S-3 Viking displayed outside the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Waymark Code: WMK7N8
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/24/2014
Views: 4
The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-seat twin-engine jet aircraft that was used by the U.S. Navy to identify and track enemy submarines. In the late 1990s, the S-3B's mission focus shifted to surface warfare and aerial refueling. The Viking also provided electronic warfare and surface surveillance capabilities to the carrier battle group. A carrier-based, subsonic, all-weather, multi-mission aircraft with long range, it carried automated weapon systems, and was capable of extended missions with in-flight refueling. Because of the engines’ low-pitched sound, it was nicknamed the "Hoover" after the vacuum cleaner brand.
The S-3 was retired from front-line fleet service aboard aircraft carriers by the US Navy in January 2009.
On 1 May 2003, US President George W. Bush flew in the co-pilot seat of this aircraft from NAS North Island, California to USS Abraham Lincoln off the California coast. There, he delivered his "Mission Accomplished" speech announcing the end of major combat in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During the flight, the aircraft used the customary presidential callsign of "Navy One". The aircraft that President Bush flew in was retired shortly thereafter and on 15 July 2003 was accepted as an exhibit at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
Info from Wikipedia.
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): S-3 Viking
Tail Number: (S/N): 9387
Construction:: original aircraft
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): National Naval Aviation Museum
inside / outside: outside
Access restrictions:
The aircraft is located on Naval Air Station Pensacola. Access to the museum is during daylight hours only.
Other Information:: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.