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Lockheed ES-3A 'Viking'

Description
  Manufacturer:Lockheed
  Base model:S-3
  Designation:ES-3
  Version:A
  Nickname:Viking
  Designation System:U.S. Tri-Service
  Designation Period:1962-Present
  Basic role:Anti-Submarine
  Modified Mission:Special electronic installation

Specifications
  Length: 53' 4" 16.2 m
  Height:22' 9" 6.9 m
  Wingspan: 68' 8" 20.9 m
  Wingarea: 598.0 sq ft 55.5 sq m
  Empty Weight: 26,554 lb 12,042 kg
  Gross Weight: 43,491 lb 19,723 kg
  Max Weight: 52,539 lb 23,827 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 2
  Powerplant: General Electric TF34-GE-2
  Thrust (each): 9,275 lb 4,206 kg

Performance
  Cruise Speed: 403 mph 648 km/h 350 kt
  Max Speed: 506 mph 814 km/h 440 kt
  Climb: 3,937 ft/min 1,199 m/min
  Ceiling: 35,000 ft 10,667 m

Operators (Past and Present)
USN VQ-5 Agana Guam
USN VQ-6 Cecil Field FL


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 K. Koehler
 Springfield, OH
I was the lead engineer in designing the screens on the ES-3A data collection suite. It was one of the most exciting times in my career. I had a great team of software design engineers designing software for the Multi-Purpose Display screens. I was lucky enough to be tasked with the overall design of all the screens and the presentation of the operational layout to the fleet commanders. I was sad to hear they discountinued the use of the ES-3A in 1999
09/08/2005 @ 22:01 [ref: 11186]
 AEC (ret) Tom Gannon
 Hyde Park, NY
I cruised w/ Shadows 720, 721 (busted wing in Osan AB), 722 & 723; all at different times aboard the Indy & various other places in WESTPAC. It was no whale det, but they were good times. No offense you other S-3 pukes!
09/06/2005 @ 08:26 [ref: 11163]
 AEC (ret) Tom Gannon
 Hyde Park, NY
I cruised w/ Shadows 720, 721 (busted wing in Osan AB), 722 & 723; all at different times aboard the Indy & various other places in WESTPAC. It was no whale det, but they were good times. No offense you other S-3 pukes!
09/06/2005 @ 08:26 [ref: 11162]
 David Struthers AD1
 brunswick, ME
I was attached to VQ5 from Dec 91 until Feb 98. I helped stand up det 5 in Misawa,Japan. This was truly a squadron that knew how to get things done and fly alot of missions. I truly think some people in D.C. had thier heads where the sun doesn't shine when they decomissioned VQ-5/6. I really enjoyed working on that platform. The folks that decided to modify 16 of the oldest S-3 airframes so not to take any of the newer B mods must of thought they would not last long. I tell you that after seeing the ES-3A and S-3B on hte ship together boy were they ever wrong the old ES-3A outflew the newer planes and held up so much better could also be a testament to the quality of personnel working on them. I would really like to give the individuals a swift kick for getting rid of a truly important part of any carrier air wing. Just ask any former battle group commander if he misses the ES-3A.

12/08/2002 @ 02:28 [ref: 6199]
 R. A. Fiol
 , FL
This is one of the few mods of an original platform that were significant enough to "rename" the platform. It should be listed as the ES-3A Shadow.
10/25/2002 @ 22:09 [ref: 5954]
 Wesley Boston
 Newton, NC
I was early on in this program, (1982 time frame), as a S-3A Cotac and Tacco in VS-41. The Navy is mainly run by the Fighter and Attack hardcores who could not appreciate this technology and so it became a matter of politics and survival. Too bad. It is a good bird and they should defintitely continue the sequence on this one!
07/06/2002 @ 09:21 [ref: 5252]
 James Ragunathan
 Melbourne, OTH
Why in Sam Hill did the US Navy decommission the ES-3A? What do they use for in theatre ELINT now, then? Insanity, is it not? Does anyone agree?
09/24/2001 @ 03:36 [ref: 3247]
 Joseph Nevis
 , CA
VQ-5 moved from Agana to North Island around 94-95. Both Q 5 and 6 decommed and the planes went to AMARC the end of 99. There were 16 ES-3s made and they had one of the highest usage rates of any plane aboard ship. Only two deployed at a time and missions usually lasted from 6-7 hours.
08/06/2001 @ 15:10 [ref: 2849]

 

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