Qualified and current in A3D

Tom-D

Tom-D

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Tom-D
WE here at Whidbey have a group that wants a A3D placed on a stick outside of the gate.

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/112897604.html

but there is a problem. the last flyable A3 belongs to Raytheon Company in Van Nuys, Calif.

The biggest problem is the money, but who is going to fly the A3 up here is the other.

What certificates does it require to fly that big old bird ? and is there a currency level required?
 
You buy it, I'll fly it up. Anymore you probably should have a TR for it, but on a one time flight, it's one of those "easier to ask forgiveness than permission" deals. Worst I'd get on it is a 90 day rip, I'd take that for a good cause....
 
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While Henning has the bold proposal, I'd suggest just trucking it. I've had bigger stuff hauled further for less.
 
No type rating required -- there's no FAA type for that aircraft, so AMEL is all you need on your ticket. But I suspect you need some sort of LoA from the FSDO.

BTW, Henning, just how much time do you have in single-piloted medium jet bombers?
 
If Henning can't do it. Sign me up.
 
I've never flown a Whale, but I've flown with some who did, and watched them launch and come aboard. There's reasons why they said "A3D" stood for "All 3 Dead." That's a 60's vintage, swept-wing aircraft, and those of that genre are known for having surprises in store. If I were in charge of this operation, I'd go find someone who actually flew these things -- probably still some guys retired from the Naval Air Reserve squadron at Alameda which last flew the jet hanging around whose arms could be twisted into one last Whale ride.
 
E-mail sent to my flying buddy. I'm pretty sure he flew one in the Navy.
 
Good luck with the project. While I'm glad it will be on display, I find it sad to see the last flyable anything turned in to a popsicle.
 
Tom-D said:
WE here at Whidbey have a group that wants a A3D placed on a stick outside of the gate.

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/112897604.html

but there is a problem. the last flyable A3 belongs to Raytheon Company in Van Nuys, Calif.

The biggest problem is the money, but who is going to fly the A3 up here is the other.

What certificates does it require to fly that big old bird ? and is there a currency level required?
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I would imagine Raytheon still has some qualified guys around to fly it. It hasn't been out of use that long.

I'm an old VQ-1 (Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One) guy. We had EA-3B's as well as EP-3's. I did a detachment on the USS Midway with a Whale. :thumbsup:
 
Ron Levy said:
No type rating required -- there's no FAA type for that aircraft, so AMEL is all you need on your ticket. But I suspect you need some sort of LoA from the FSDO.

LOA for this one flight, no, it belongs to Raytheon, and is flown as EXP, in a missile test configuration under their contractor requirements,

don't you need 3 landings in it before you are current in type? or can you carry the required crew to do that, and would the 1 at Whidbey be the first? and only one required?

BTW, Henning, just how much time do you have in single-piloted medium jet bombers?
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I wonder how many pilots here would know what the term " around the horn" means in A3 lingo. Or pee their pants the first time that J57 chugged.
 
Ron Levy said:
You do know what's actually in those things, right? You really wouldn't want to drink the stuff they've been using for the last half-century or more...
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Yeah, clear lamp oil, don't fart in the near location of ignition.
 
Rotor&Wing said:
I would imagine Raytheon still has some qualified guys around to fly it. It hasn't been out of use that long.

Maybe, maybe not, those guys were old the last time they got out of one

I'm an old VQ-1 (Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One) guy. We had EA-3B's as well as EP-3's. I did a detachment on the USS Midway with a Whale. :thumbsup:
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VQ-1 is what became of my old detachment. at De-nang/Clark AFB. the spookies when jet after we scrapped the connies.
 
Ron Levy said:
I've never flown a Whale, but I've flown with some who did, and watched them launch and come aboard. There's reasons why they said "A3D" stood for "All 3 Dead." That's a 60's vintage, swept-wing aircraft, and those of that genre are known for having surprises in store. If I were in charge of this operation, I'd go find someone who actually flew these things -- probably still some guys retired from the Naval Air Reserve squadron at Alameda which last flew the jet hanging around whose arms could be twisted into one last Whale ride.
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I had a taxi permit for the whale at Pt.Mugu. (never flew it) that is until one night I was told to take it to high power run up pad for an engine cal, So me and a ADJ-1 started it on the ramp and started for the high power pad, all was well until we cut the corner from the ramp to the taxi way too short, and sank the Right gear of that heavy bit-- in the sand.

That was a log night, but the chief never found out about it. until the crash crew was joking about it in the line shack about 6 months later, that was an unpleasant day too.
 
I got a thank you from my flying buddy for leading him to that site. Apparently he knows quite a few of the people. He sometimes teases me about spending so much time on the computer with my "internet friends" but not today.
 
Get Steve Hinton to do it. He seems to fly everything.:D
 
Two thoughts:

1) That baby dwarfs the F4s, A4s, and A7s in the picture. Big airplane. I never realized how large they were.

2) If you're just going to put it on a stick, financially, it would make waaaaaaay more sense to truck it. Not to be a wet blanket on the "final flight" concept, but you could give away filet mignon at the dedication ceremony and still be money up.
 
flyersfan31 said:
Two thoughts:

1) That baby dwarfs the F4s, A4s, and A7s in the picture. Big airplane. I never realized how large they were.

2) If you're just going to put it on a stick, financially, it would make waaaaaaay more sense to truck it. Not to be a wet blanket on the "final flight" concept, but you could give away filet mignon at the dedication ceremony and still be money up.
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OMG ,,,,, cut it up and truck it? blasphemy!

I think all considered flying it would be cheaper. it will require cut up, and a wide load ticket follow me cars, and over weight permits in three states. fuel in either method and putting it back together.
 
Tom-D said:
OMG ,,,,, cut it up and truck it? blasphemy!

I think all considered flying it would be cheaper. it will require cut up, and a wide load ticket follow me cars, and over weight permits in three states. fuel in either method and putting it back together.
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Cost to cut it up plus about $3.00/mile to get it there, most likely.

The fuel to bring it on the ground will be less than 300 gallons, pilot cars included. Probably can't taxi it to the runway with 300 gallons. ;)

That said, I hope you fly it too. :yes:
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Cost to cut it up plus about $3.00/mile to get it there, most likely.

The fuel to bring it on the ground will be less than 300 gallons, pilot cars included. Probably can't taxi it to the runway with 300 gallons. ;)

That said, I hope you fly it too. :yes:
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not me,,,,,,,,,, OH no not me. I am not a part of the group, nor do I want any part of it.

the J-57 wasn't that bad on fuel, the A3D will do 5 hours on 3000 gallons, I worked for the fuel delivery company here and fueled a few 3 k was about all we delivered to a A3D but the KA3D would take more.
 
Tom-D said:
OMG ,,,,, cut it up and truck it? blasphemy!
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The whole thread started with the fact that it's going to be an airplane-on-a-stick, anyway.

Pretty sure the blasphemy of putting it on a stick, trumps the heck out of trucking it to said stick. :sad:
 
Tom-D said:
OMG ,,,,, cut it up and truck it? blasphemy!.
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That was my attempt a humor,

I really don't care how they get it here, My question was what Qualifications & currency was required.
 
A man has to know his limitations. I might be able to land a king air with help from the ground. I'd go down fighting, but I'd die in a A3D. Dave
 
Tom-D said:
OMG ,,,,, cut it up and truck it? blasphemy!

I think all considered flying it would be cheaper. it will require cut up, and a wide load ticket follow me cars, and over weight permits in three states. fuel in either method and putting it back together.
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You can't pop the wings off??

Could it fit in the Boeing Dreamliner? Maybe hit them up for a contribution-in-kind? Maybe Airbus would put it in one of their Beluga's just to tweak Boeing in its own backyard?:D
 
Unfortunately since it's a whale and not a dog, I can't stuff it in the Aztec and haul it for you. :D
 
Ron Levy said:
No, but you can fold them.
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And the fin folds too, but it would still be too big to fit thru an overpass.

With the wings folded it is as wide as most two lane roads. so the only method of ground transportation would be to barge it, But how to get it to the barge.
 
Tom-D said:
With the wings folded it is as wide as most two lane roads. so the only method of ground transportation would be to barge it, But how to get it to the barge.
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We barged unflyable A-6's from Whidbey to Alameda (where the A-6 depot-level maintenance facility was -- the NARF, or whatever they call a NARF now). But there was no road transport needed -- the pier was on the air station at both ends. Exactly where is this thing?
 
Ron Levy said:
We barged unflyable A-6's from Whidbey to Alameda (where the A-6 depot-level maintenance facility was -- the NARF, or whatever they call a NARF now). But there was no road transport needed -- the pier was on the air station at both ends. Exactly where is this thing?
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I was told.......... its at the Raytheon facility at Ontario Ca.

WE barged a couple EA6Bs from San Diego to Whidbey But I don't believe the old fuel pier at Whidbey will support the A3, its a pretty old wooden pier built for the Norton Sound.

OBTW no more NARF...... its a fleet repair station :) and the only one open is Jacksonville Fl. (with the capability's you speak of)

AIMD whidbey is now Fleet repair station northwest.. but it's no NARF
 
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Contact FedEx to fly it to Whidbey NAS on a PPR. They have MDs and 747 departing ONT twice a week. FedEx is big in charitable giving.
 
Richard said:
Contact FedEx to fly it to Whidbey NAS on a PPR. They have MDs and 747 departing ONT twice a week. FedEx is big in charitable giving.
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I'd be very interested to see how you fit an A3D into a 747 or MD-10/11 even with the wings and tail folded.
 
Here is how the Castle Air Museum moved their whale....

Skywarrior3.jpg

A-3%20December%202010%20007.JPG

SM_A-3%20December%202010%20005.jpg

SM_A-3%20in%20hangar%20008.jpg

 
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