A3
Association ![]() DATE October 25 – 28, 2002
34° 12′ 9.2″ N 118° 29′ 9.4″ W
![]() A-3 Skywarrior 50th Anniversary by Rich Gardner This watercolor and ink piece was commissioned just for this
Official… ‘Skywarrior’ Unofficial… ‘Whale’ (Most popular) ‘Heavy’ (Largest U.S.N. carrier based aircraft) ‘TACO’ (Tanker Airborne Countermeasures Ordnance) A3D ‘All three dead’ (no ejection seats, most unpopular) 28, 1952 at Edwards Air Force Base, Ca. The A-3 was commissioned by the Navy and first delivered to active duty on March 31, 1956. After 39 years of faithful service, the A-3 Skywarrior was decommissioned during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Key West, Fl. on Sept. 30, 1991. But even now, in 2000, A-3s are still flying with Raytheon as test bed aircraft. It is a testament to the A-3s versatility and ruggedness that it is still in the air 48 years since that first flight.
The information provided here relies heavily on first hand
Credit to A3 Skywarriors Association web page for images and
Photos of First Flight re-enactment by Stan Garner, October |
![]() Donald Douglas Jr. visits with Whalers |
![]() A3 ready to taxi |
![]() Take off |
![]() Taxi back to spot after landing – note drag chute |
![]() Wings folded, ready to park |
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