An A-3D Skywarrior, also called the “Whale” because of its immense size, has landed at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, becoming the 30th aircraft to join the museum’s collection. It will be restored and put on display in Hangar 79.
The Skywarriors were first used as tactical nuclear bombers and were the heaviest aircraft ever to be operational on the Navy’s aircraft carriers.
“This Skywarrior was removed from active Navy service in October 1968 and was on loan to Hughes Aircraft, now Raytheon, for radar and avionics testing for the Grumman F-14 program and as a B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber avionics test bed,” said Museum Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff. “It has quite a history and we’re pleased to give it a new home.”
On June 21, 2011, Raytheon flew Skywarrior #144867 from Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California to the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. On Feb. 3, the Whale started its journey to its next place in history at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Hawaii. The USS Midway Museum assisted.
The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on historic Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, was recently ranked one of the “top 10 aviation attractions” nationally by TripAdvisor. The museum is accessed by air-conditioned shuttle buses from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. For more information: 808-441-1000 or www.PacificAviationMuseum.org
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Sorry, I think it was the EF-10B that was called the “Whale.”