Lockheed S-3B Viking – Santa Tracker, VS-35 Blue Wolves, US Navy 2002

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA4904: Lockheed S-3B Viking “Santa Tracker” of VS-35, USS Abraham Lincoln. Production run of only 500 models.

Length 9 inches Wingspan 11.5 inches

Lockheed S-3A Viking 160124 C/N 3106 converted to a “B” spent time with VS-21 “Redtails” as NH-701, with VS-35 “Blue Wolves” as NK-700 and with VS-22 “Swordsmen” AC-703. With VS-35 “Blue Wolves” CAG aircraft wore a unique tail paint scheme of a Blue Wolf dressed like an Old West gunslinger wearing a holstered gun. VS-35 gave this CAG Viking a humorous Christmas paint scheme “Santa Tracker” for their cruise in 2002. In 2005 marked as AC-703 160124 arrived at AMARC and 4 months later was SOC.

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.