RA-3B Whale

[akradecki]

These four RA-3s have been sitting out at Mojave for years. They are part of a group operated by Raytheon at VNY for flight test program. I need to pick the minds of everyone here:
1. Does anyone know what the program was about?
2. Are any of these four of particular historical significance?
3. If you had it in your power to save one of them, which one would you save?

[phantomphan1974]

Not sure.  Probably the one that needs the least amount of work. 

[Midnight Mover]

If you had it in your power to save one of them, which one would you save?

Can't we save all three    

The landfills are already full

[akradecki]

I'll be visiting them on Monday. At this point, we've been told one might be able to be saved.

[Midnight Mover]

I'll be visiting them on Monday. At this point, we've been told one might be able to be saved.

[rander]

Ratheon Corp. got 6 or 8 of them from the U.S. Navy for various electronics projects that Ratheon had been contracted to do. At one point in the 1980's one of them even had been fitted with a F-14 nose dome. That aircraft made several appearances at Miramar and was always towed in to a hanger upon shutdown. That one aaircraft was always off limits to all but a few very well selected personel and at times had armed guards when ever do one was working the aircraft. The ones in the photos are most likely the survivors of all the electronics testing. I'd say that most of them had visited Miramar while in the testing process.

I was never a big fan of the RA-3B as I felt it was to big to operate from aircraft carrier flight decks and the Navy lost a bunch of them while landing on carriers.

If I hve to choose I see a B-737 on the extreme left of Alan's pic I'd save instead.

[WARBIRD KEITH]

the other batch is @ Van Nuys & Yes I'm a Whale Lover!

[rander]

Can't we save all three    

The landfills are already full

I doubt much if any of those aircraft go to landfills. The aluminum and stainless steel and electrical wire can be recylced and new things can be produced.

I don't think any of those A-3's have any historical significance, but then again I never worked A-3's while on active Duty.

See also this link  http://a3skywarrior.com/index.php?nid=101207&s=rs

For more A-3 Info

[gfydad]

Might want to check the history of the airframes and see if any had been involved with anything historical. If none have, then I'd also figure the one with the least amount of restoration cost to be incurred. 

[akradecki]

After the look-see yesterday, the museum board came to the consensus that N571HA is the most "historic", having participated in the Patriot missile test program. That'll likely be our first choice. When it comes time to moving it out to the front of the airport and doing cleanup and cosmetic work, we'll be looking for volunteers, if anyone's interested.

[GTagami]

After the look-see yesterday, the museum board came to the consensus that N571HA is the most "historic", having participated in the Patriot missile test program. That'll likely be our first choice. When it comes time to moving it out to the front of the airport and doing cleanup and cosmetic work, we'll be looking for volunteers, if anyone's interested.

I'm game. Let me know when it comes across. Maybe APSOCAL can be some sort of a volunteer sponsor...?

[phantomphan1974]

Didn't realize that you were asking since the museum is trying or getting one.

[Midnight Mover]

At least one might be saved

[rander]

If all your going to do is tow it to the front gate for a gate guard That will save a lot of disassembly time and expence. THe museum could tow the aircraft up next to a hanger so you could have electrical and air service to the aircraft and do your restoration right next to a hanger. I would suggust that the museum look for a person to do any exterior painting that you may need to do. If I remember correctly, the Navy uses an epoxy type paint with a hardener in the paint because the paint will be on the side of the aircraft for several years.