Lockheed S-3B Viking – VS-21 Fighting Redtails, US Navy 1990s

HA4901: S-3B Viking Serial 160131 of VS-21 “Fighting Redtails” US NAVY, based on the carrier USS Independence in the 1990s. Production run of 1,500 models.

Length 9 inches Wingspan 11.5 inches

Lockheed aircraft 160131 was manufactured as an S-3A and later converted to an S-3B. It was assigned to VS-21”Fighting Redtails”. On July 4, 1950 it was the first carrier based squadron to leave the USA for the Korean War. In 1974 VS-21 was the first to receive the Lockheed S-3A Viking and in April 1991 the first Pacific Fleet squadron to get the S-3B. August 1991 saw VS-21 join CVW-5 at NAF Atsugi, Japan and deployed on USS Independence until 1995. 160131 was sent to AMARC on May 26, 2004.

In 1974 the Lockheed S-3 Viking entered service with the USN as a twin-engine jet aircraft used for enemy submarine warfare. By the late 1990’s the role shifted to surface warfare providing the carrier battle group with long range surveillance capabilities and aerial refueling. The S-3 was in production from 1974 until 1978 with 186 (187) aircraft completed. Most airframes saw upgrades to the S-3B and sixteen became ES-3A “Shadow” electronic intelligence collection aircraft. The low pitch sound of the engines earned the S-3 the nickname “Hoover” after the vacuum cleaner.