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After supporting the center\u2019s research missions for more than a decade, NASA\u2019s S-3B Viking aircraft is moving on from NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to begin a new and honorable assignment.<\/p>\n
The aircraft is heading to the National POW\/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville, Florida, where it will be on display, honoring all Prisoners of War (POW), those Missing in Action (MIA), and the families who seek the return of their loved ones. The museum gives visitors a place of solace to reflect, learn, and hear stories about America\u2019s POW and MIA service members through exhibits and events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are honored to be part of it,\u201d said JD Demers, chief of Aircraft Operations at NASA Glenn. \u201cMoving the S-3 is a win-win for everybody. The museum gets an aircraft in beautiful shape, and our S-3 gets to continue living a meaningful life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally designed by Lockheed Martin as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, NASA\u2019s S-3B Viking will travel south to its new museum home, which is located at the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field where S-3B Vikings once flew. It will be displayed with a plaque recognizing the 54 service members who perished during S-3 flight missions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really fortunate for us that this S-3 has such a well-kept, beautiful airframe that we can use as part of this plaza,\u201d said Ed Turner, executive director of the National POW\/MIA Memorial and Museum. \u201cCecil Field was the East Coast home for the S-3B Vikings, so we are proud to have it for display here as one of Cecil\u2019s legacy aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes, this S-3 supported vital NASA flight research by donating parts to its sister plane, another S3-B Viking that was retired in 2021. Through the donation of its parts, the S-3 contributed to communications research in advanced air mobility and monitoring of algal bloom growth in Lake Erie.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving this aircraft added an extra 10 years of life to its sister plane,\u201d Demers said. \u201cThose 10 years were vital for research. This plane allowed us to keep flying that aircraft after the Navy retired the S-3B Vikings in 2009. We wouldn\u2019t have been able to find parts.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. Navy flew S-3 Vikings primarily out of three locations: North Island Naval Air Station, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. There were S-3B Vikings in all locations except Jacksonville, until now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are three bases in three locations that used to fly S-3s, and now each area has an S-3 as part of its display,\u201d Demers said. \u201cIt belongs there. It\u2019s going back to its original home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n