Warbird Information Exchange

The B-66 destroyer and A-3D Skywarrior were never really numerous, and they survive in small numbers. There may be 7 B-66 airframes that are complete, but only one currently inside, and that will be the long term survivor. The rest are deteriorating slowly as aircraft do.

The A-3D is best watched on the A-3D Skywarrior association homepage...I believe some of these airframes are in store in Van Nuys Ca at the Raytheon facility. A shame not all will survive, and Miramar Museum, or even Pt Mugu and the like should have one!

Near as I can figure there are 13 displayed A3D airframes, perhaps 15 at AMARC and 4 Mojave plus another 4-6 at Van Nuys...at least one on the ranges at Gila Bend...

And from that website...


RELOCATIONS

Attention all Whalers

A new era is emerging in the life history of the A-3 Skywarrior. We've all know it to be coming but it has arrived. The A-3 will no longer be flown or operated at any level of authorization. The timeline is not completely defined but it appears that by 2011, flyable aircraft will have been deactivated, assigned, and delivered, providing arrangements have been made in advance.

See the bottom of this page or the menu for links to specific projects.
The other flyable aircraft from Raytheon were officially posted on the Navy's strike list in October 2009. They are:

•EA-3B 144865
•EA-3B 146454
•NRA-3B 142667
•NRA-3B 144825
•NTA-3B 144867
•TA-3B 144858
Three other aircraft at Mojave have been marked for disposal (scrap metal). Two will have the cockpit sections separated from the fuselage with the remaining airframe being scrapped. One cockpit will go to NMNA in Pensacola and the other will to go to the Estrella Warbird Museum in Paso Robles, Ca. The last airframe will be scrapped.

An unofficial report outlines the following news about these specific aircraft.

79 TA3B 144859 (flyer)
would be a keeper, most likely as a spare, or available for flight to a museum.

78 NRA3B 144825 (partially cannibalized)

77 NTA3B 144867 (flyer)

76 NRA3B 142667 (partially cannibalized)

75 EA3B 144865 (flyer)

74 EA3B 146454 (flyer)

73 ERA3B XXX (partially cannibalized)

70 TA3B 144856 (complete airplane)
recent paint, no museum directions.

BuNo 144832's forward section is at the NMNA as of 2010 02 (possibly a month earlier)


Gary

The USS Yorktown, in Charleston, SC, was to get an A-3D from California earlier in July. I've been out of town for most of the month, so I don't know if it arrived on schedule. I'll check and post pics if its there.

Walt

_________________
If God had intended airplane engines to have horizontally-opposed cylinders, Pratt & Whitney would have built them that way.

The A3D-2Q (redesignated EA-3B in 1962) was received on board the Yorktown in mid-July. It had previously been on display at NAS Rota, Spain. Here are some photos taken today. Bu # is 146457.










Walt

_________________
If God had intended airplane engines to have horizontally-opposed cylinders, Pratt & Whitney would have built them that way.

Nice photos, thanks Walt.

-Derek