'All 3 Dead' The A3D Skywarrior

[Jack Cook]

A-3 of Heavy Four ready to launch off the Bonnie Dick.

Mod Edit: Title amended (sorry Jack) just to avoid any heart bumps. Looked OK to me. JDK

[warbird1]

Dang, Jack, you scared me with that thread title. I thought it was another aircraft crash!

[Steve Nelson]

I know very little about this aircraft. Did they leave the top hatch open during launch in case of emergency, or button up?

SN

[The Inspector]

NO ejection seats-
WHALE DANCE COMING UP SOON!!!

[Scott Rose]

My father was flight engineer/plane captain on these for years before transitioning to P-3 Orions. Thanks Jack!

[Malo83]

Beautiful Bird, turned wrenches on the Whale while attatched to VQ-1 in GUAM 72-75, we had 3 versions EA-3B,RA-3B and the TA-3B

http://a3skywarrior.com/

As Jack's photo shows, those J57s were smoky!

[Jack Cook]

My step-dad dad flew in this a.c on a number of flights during 2 west pacs on the Bonnie Dick. The pilot he flew with most was LTjg James "Pocahontas" Smith a A-4 jock sent over to the A-3 community because of a A-3 pilot shortage. In fact my step-dad said the pilot shortage was so bad at one point they were grabbing prop pilots. Their Det OinC was a A-1 pilot with no jet time and he eventually was removed has he couldn't get the hang of putting the Whale on the boat after having a ramp strike which ended in a bailout. The hatch was left open has it was the only real way out in the advent of a water landing. All 3 dead was in fact 1 of 2 nicknames I know of with the other being the whale.
If in fact there was a crash with 3 fatals I cetainly wouldn't blast ya'll with that headline

[Mike]

When I look out of the window where I'm working at the moment*, I can see a line of 4 or 5 of them. Very cool!

I'm not sure how often they fly them - does anyone have any more info?

*(Van Nuys, in case anyone was wondering)

[Jack Cook]

Heavy 4 Det Echo at Cubi Point

[BigGrey]

Mike, those birds belong to Raytheon. Here is some info on them.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher4/newa3_8.html

Les

[K5DH]

When I look out of the window where I'm working at the moment*, I can see a line of 4 or 5 of them. Very cool!

I'm not sure how often they fly them - does anyone have any more info?

*(Van Nuys, in case anyone was wondering)

Hey Mike,

Can you get me some photos of the Raytheon Whales? I work for Raytheon and I'm always looking for stuff like that.

Before anyone asks, I work in a different division of the company, so I have no information on the Whales other than what's on the internet and in magazine articles.

Cheers!

[PbyCat-Guy]

Beautiful Bird, turned wrenches on the Whale while attatched to VQ-1 in GUAM 72-75, we had 3 versions EA-3B,RA-3B and the TA-3B

http://a3skywarrior.com/

My Dad was Air Crew on an A-3 with VQ-2 in the late 70's/early 80's. He is very fond of the whale.

[Jack Cook]

There's a few VQ A-3 shots here from the Med 1978-79.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/posting.php?mode=reply&t=26023

[red two]

There's a few VQ A-3 shots here from the Med 1978-79.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/posting.php?mode=reply&t=26023

Correct me if I'm wrong but the B-66 Destroyer was a near cousin of the Whale? the B-66 has ejection seats, so why on earth did the Navy forgoe ejection seats on the Whale?