San Diego Air & Space Museum received a rare S-3B Viking aircraft at its Gillespie Field Annex (SEE) on 13th July.
Originally designed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy , NASA's S-3B is the only last flight-worthy Viking in the world.
The Museum is receiving a rare S-3B Viking aircraft at its Gillespie Field Annex between 2-4 p.m. Tues., 7/13. NASA Flight 601 can be tracked on FlightAware at https://t.co/01uMFodhbG The S-3B will depart Cleveland, OH, stop in El Paso, TX, then land in San Diego. #nasa #S-3B pic.twitter.com/hehS0Rcpxm
— San Diego Air & Space Museum (@SDASM) July 12, 2021
The Viking was put out of active service in 2009 while U.S. Navy was using it as anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
"We're just thrilled that the last S-3 ever is coming home to San Diego Air and Space Museum and really coming home. This is the home of the S-3," said Jim Kidrick, the museum's president and CEO.
NASA's S-3B Viking aircraft was completely modified in the year 2006 for flight research projects.
All weapons systems were removed and replaced with civilian avionics, GPS, and satellite communications systems to conduct flight communications research.
Our S-3B Viking aircraft is on its way to @SDASM. Safe travels to our pilots. Fans have spotted the plane all
— NASA Glenn Research (@NASAglenn) July 13, 2021
over the U.S. You can share your favorite Viking photos in the comments & learn about the plane here:https://t.co/T5vFnLZzjo pic.twitter.com/98V04mLvlr
One of its major contributions was helping NASA's aeronautical innovators define communications standards that the Federal Aviation Administration can apply to the unmanned aircraft systems for safe operation in U.S. airspace.
"I've been flying this aircraft for over 25 years. Took it to NASA and we've been flying it at NASA for 10 or 15 now and it's time -- it's time to retire the aircraft," said Jim Demers, NASA’s Glenn Research Center Flight Operations Manager. "We're moving on to new technology, new testing."
