The Lockheed S-3 Viking: America's Submarine Hunting Plane

[@megaprojects9649]

Get Surfshark VPN at Surfshark.deals/mega - Enter promo code MEGA for 83% off and 3 extra months for free!

[@Ultrare]

Simon's brain: "Oh good, it's a plane. People love planes" *Simon watches as the views go up*

[@GamerSloth2275]

Have you done a video of NASA's Deep Space Network before?

[@meinkamph5327]

The George Bush aircraft landed is something history doesn't want prosperity knowing.

[@unguidedone]

dont give out security advice if your a non professional

[@fatmike5038]

I started to watch this video but then decided not to. I pay for premium youtube subscription so I dont have to watch commercials and yours just keep getting worse and worse and if your promoting Surfshark that means you dont know shit about cyber security.

[@chrisslky7018]

The Vikings were the most understated plane on the deck when I was there. Between the whirling blades of death on the Hawkeyes, the tooth rattling of the Prowlers and the thundering afterburners of the Tomcats and Hornets, was the gentle whine of the Vikings. They did their job very well! Cheers!

[@WG55]

Yes, the "Hoovers" had a distinctive sound!

[@gusgrimm7533]

Ha! I was nearly blown off the fantail by an S3 crossing from the hell-hole to the LSO platform during Rim-Pac. Grabbed a pad-eye & held on 4 dear life. 😱

[@ramal5708]

It's so sad that these kind of aircraft like the TBF Avenger and Vikings have short service both are underrated ASW and attacker carrier based aircraft

[@jackrussellthevrgamer4209]

adjectives frfr

[@alexander1485]

When is he gonna do a video: Mega Projects: Simon Whistler

[@brandon1023]

+ beard

[@bartfoster1311]

More of a Sideprojects with all the channels he has! 😁

[@travisinthetrunk]

Knowing Simon, it’ll be on April Fools Day.

[@ColonelClusterFunk]

"The t h i c c e s t host ever built in the history of science & engineering"

[@kennyhagan5781]

You have a valid point. He's just everywhere anymore.

[@billhaleen1341]

As a Viking Sailor for 13+ years and a Viking Tech Rep for another 15+ years let me say I LOVE THE VIKING more than almost anything in my life.

[@qua7771]

I was a P-3 guy, and rarely heard much about this plane. I would think that people would talk more about it in the P-3 community given the similarities.

[@qua7771]

@@DIRTYdeeds613 Then the P-3 Orion didn't have any purpose by your logic.

[@MTF-EPSILON-11-5-NULL]

@@DIRTYdeeds613russian sub your 2 piston is knocking hahahah

[@bartfoster1311]

This is one of the most underrated planes of the Cold War. They are definitely worth keeping around the boneyard for future use!

[@ridethecurve55]

Now that the Sovi....er, Russians are building attack subs using non-magnetic alloys, I just hope a replacement technology has been successful in maintaining tracking capabilities. We wouldn't want to lose sight of one of Those fish, now would we?

[@TerryTerius]

@@ridethecurve55 I distinctly remember the Pentagon issuing a report about needing to revamp its submarine hunting capabilities not too long ago. Which suggests that it is currently a weakness. Makes sense given it hasn’t exactly been a priority for a long time now. And our submarine hunting capabilities used to be a suite of technologies and platforms, so it’s hard to gauge just how significant that hole is.

[@Butchdabuilder]

@@ridethecurve55 supposedly a company called palantir is tracking every sub on planet earth. AI system called Gotham using satellites

[@jeffwalther3935]

I cannot emphasize how MUCH I agree. The S-3 ASW capability vs everything else, is paramount in anything coming up strategic, nasty and bad, imho. This birds been MY personal dream machine since I first saw one. It can must and will DO the job designed - that delivers Victory Day. This aircraft's airframes at D.M. AFB should all be immediately restored to service.

[@Acrophobia2]

@@TerryTerius or they want to give the Russians false confidence

[@khyvich]

I serve aboard the USS Constellation with VS-37 (pictured aircraft) in 1988. I am almost positive that that is LT Hinshaw at the controls. I screamed like a schoolgirl at a Beatles concert when I saw that picture. Those planes did everything on our ship. They were loved because they brought mail

[@mdb831]

cool as hell. thank you

[@jin1063]

VS-29 "Dragonfires" Tracked a Soviet Sub for 27 hours while deployed on WestPac 84/85 on board the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70. Several S-3A Vikings kept track of the sub, she was caught coming out of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam and was targeted ofr nearly the entire time of contact.

[@davidabarak]

I just realized you were in VS-29 when I was. I was a SENSO; we must know each other. EDIT: I may have misunderstood your post, thinking you were in VS-29.

[@jin1063]

@@davidabarak I was in VS-29 from February '84 till I got out in May '86. We definatelty walked on the same deck! I was in the AT Shop for about 4 months and then went to AIMD as part of the Squardon's AIMD Detachment. I did RIMPAC 84 and WESPAC 84/85 in IM-3, Shop 8, the VAST Shop. As a point of interest, I am a Plankowner of the USS Carl Vinson. I went to A School after 14 months in the Fleet and then came to VS-29.

[@mikeyo4406]

Thanks for your service guy's!!!

[@thedungeondelver]

The Viking is one of my favorite planes! (Btw, it's "General Dynamics" not "Dinamics")

[@dewiz9596]

And definitely NOT Dinamycs 😀

[@owenshebbeare2999]

Tomato, TomAYtoe.

[@taylorc2542]

He's British.

[@Frenchcrop]

Spelling generally is bad on this channel, faults are pretty communghugfddxx

[@friendocats7211]

@@taylorc2542 You'd figure a British person would know how to spell an English word.

[@truckerray7533]

I was a PC, then jet engine mech, then general maintance & corrosion control on the S-3Alpha/Bravo Vikings with the VS-33 Screwbirds aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), CVW-9 from 1988--1992. Loved the Vikings. They were a multi-sorti mission bird!!! Good times! Salute

[@joerichardson4325]

I wonder if your still around? I was an AT in VS-24 Scouts out of NAS Cecil Field, FL. I rode the Nimitz in '86/'87 and we took her from the Med, around the Horn, to San Diego (NASNI) to offload and head back East, then Nimitz was supposed to go to Bremerton for new homeport. We then deployed on the T Roosevelt CVN-71. Fair winds good sir!

[@RCAvhstape]

3:00 Lockheed Martin did not exist yet; the contractor was "Lockheed Aircraft Corporation" which later merged with Martin Marietta in the 1990s to become today's Lockheed Martin. Martin Marietta was formed by a merger in the early 60s between Glenn L. Martin company and American Marietta. Martin, in the old days, was known for building, among other things, various flying boats.

[@slowpezmia]

I had to share this with my buddies from the S-3 community. Thank you for putting the lady I popped my cherry with. I loved working with her from 1993 to 1995 and see action in 1994 with the Viking Outlaw on board the USS Kitty Hawk. There are many things you missed, but you can talk hours with this aircraft, specially with the ES-3A Sea Shadow.

[@Skullfocher]

My grandfather was one of the chief design engineers on the S-3 project for Lockheed. He spent years stationed at Subic Bay, Philippines in the 70's and early '80's working with these birds. Many times he was civilian engineer aboard the Enterprise or Kitty Hawk working on the Vikings (and everything else they needed fixed). Thank you for covering the S-3's.

[@michaelpipkin9942]

Can you do the history of The Thunderbirds? The aircraft are always evolving, entertaining millions. Most don't know their story is tragic and decades long.

[@pegasusted2504]

I always liked 4 myself. ;~)

[@TheSlamburger]

Thought you meant the TV show for a second. (Thunderbird 2 will always be the best)

[@TheBooban]

@Usagi Ninjin remake? With puppets?

[@JetguyP3]

I made my last flight in VS-37 off the Enterprise in Sawbuck 705 in 1983, the first S-3A shown in this video. Had well over a thousand hours in this platform and miss those days! Loved flying in the Viking!

[@anthonypeterkin6303]

Did this aircraft carry defense ordenence

[@JetguyP3]

@Clarence Wilsey There's a name I have not heard in many years. Hope life has been good to you!

[@JetguyP3]

@@anthonypeterkin6303 No, just bombs and torpedo's and rockets, later missiles!

[@davidabarak]

I know your name - it's well-traveled in Viking circles.

[@billhaleen1341]

@@anthonypeterkin6303 The S3-B had chaff buckets.

[@SkunkApe407]

This is one of my favorite birds, right along with the F-14 and F-4. I operated the flight deck cameras on the USS Theodore Roosevelt during OIF and OEF, and truly fell in love with the S-3B during those deployments. My work center/shop was the ILARTS/IFLOLS shop directly below the waist catapults, and I used to love the sound of the S-3's roaring overhead as they left the cats. My berthing was also as far forward as you can go below the flight deck, and my rack was directly below the water brakes. If you look at the front of a carrier, the two circular porthole windows below the flight deck were on either side of my rack. We slept in shifts during flight ops, and we'd try and ID birds by the sound of their engines as they took off while waiting for sleep. One guy would stand at each window, keeping score. Those racks were uncomfortable, the food sucked, my shipmates were a**holes, and I miss every bit of it. Best years of my life. "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way" -Cpt. John Paul Jones Continental Navy

[@Fairly_Epic]

Thank you for your service!

[@intrinsicimagery]

No mistaking the Hoover. I made the Maiden Cruise of TR with CAW 8. VS-24 was one of the most efficient squadrons.

[@SkunkApe407]

@@intrinsicimagery HooYah Rough Rider! It's an honor to meet a plankowner from the old girl. She's a damned fine vessel.

[@SkunkApe407]

@@Fairly_Epic it was an honor. No thanks necessary, but I appreciate the sentiment. I got to travel and see the world on the taxpayer's dollar, even if it was to fight a war, so I should probably be thanking you. So thank you for giving me the opportunity and a reason to serve. Fair winds and following seas.

[@stanjackson4694]

Hello shipmate I was on the TR form 89-93. AK S-8 Div. I also loved the S3 beautiful plane.

[@offanchor]

Thanks so much for this one! I was a Plane Captain with VS-37 (Sawbucks) in the early 90's. Great to see my old girl get some love! :)

[@AbbyNormL]

I served on the USS Bremerton (SSN-698) as an EM1(SS) and during the years I was onboard, we were never detected by either the USSR Navy or the US Navy. As for the US, we played multiple war games with surface ships (aka targets) and we could have sank every vessel there. We would get under the aircraft carrier and get targeting solutions on the other ships to prove we could sink them. One time the Captain of our boat crept up on a carrier before the start of the games and one minute after the start, he fired two “torpedos” which were later ruled to have sunk the carrier. The carrier CO was pissed at our CO. We frequently went out on weekly ops so surface ships could get practice tracking a submarine. Our boat was so quiet, we had “noise makers” installed in the sail to give the surface ships something to track. We could cut power to it and get away anytime we desired.

[@mikearmstrong8483]

You think you were never detected. I was on P-3s, and we tracked L A class a few times.

[@williammoore1984]

@@mikearmstrong8483 Thank you for correcting the bubblehead. I was at Kef, and we tracked them lots.

[@revejmal]

@@williammoore1984 I'm guessing you guys had boxes and patrol areas for where they would be, at a specific time and speed?

[@trwalsh22152]

I was a Senso with VS-32 from ‘87-92… played with LA class boats many times in the torpedo range off of Andros Island in the Bahamas. Since US subs were much quieter than Soviet subs of that period, they ran the “Augmenters” to more closely simulate the louder noise levels of the Russian boats. Once the exercises were over and they turned them off, it got much harder to track them. We could still do it if we needed to, but our sonobuoys had to be dropped much closer. The bottom line is that the quieter the sub, the harder it is to find them. But once we found it, we could track it so long as we stayed on top of it tightly. If we lost it, then we most likely lost it and probably weren’t going to find it again.

[@greg5023]

I guess my boat was detected once. I was an EM on a Sturgeon boat. We were in the Atlantic, returning from the Med. I was standing AEA. The CO made the following announcement over the 1MC, "Torpedo detected. Torpedo in the water. All Ahead Emergency". Story #2 - While in the Med we approached a surfaced Alfa and while submerged, the CO extended the scope and got photos of its hull fittings. I was throttleman and I got the order, "Make four turns".

[@cybrpypr]

The S3 Viking was my favorite all-time Naval aircraft.

[@danielwolf6875]

Damn. The Viking was like "I don't get to hunt submarines like I was designed for? Fuck it, I'll be awesome at everything else." Haha. Lockheed Martin almost always delivers properly.

[@daviddesrosiers1946]

I was in the Navy and knew some Viking crews. They were very, very good at what they did, and their platform was exceptional.

[@allenwathen9761]

As a 20 year Viking technician, this is one of the best documentary/reviews of what the MIGHTY Hoover was capable of. I miss being around such an iconic aircraft and miss even more the unique sound she made when airborne. Thank you for doing her justice.

[@warrend114]

wooooooop woooooooop woooooooooop

[@Dream_Weapon]

The A6 finally got a mention. What a beauty it was.

[@lopezmotorsports]

I am VERY jaded that they decommed the Viking. I was with VS-41 for a year and fell in love with the aircraft. I get emotional when I see it. It's like seeing old videos of a passed away friend. Thank you for posting this. Brought back great memories.

[@cleverusername9369]

Hear me out: There are multiple Simons. He's discovered cloning technology and keeps his clones locked in the Blazement with Danny, Sam, and Peter, only releasing one at a time to produce a video. That's the only logical way that one man can have so many channels of unerringly good quality. He's slowly, methodically trying to repopulate the planet with Simons. He is legion.

[@sandybarnes887]

A continuation of his cyborg shoulder and bionic ass

[@RCAvhstape]

Simon is a Megaproject.

[@megaprojects9649]

I'm a robot sent from the future actually.

[@cleverusername9369]

@@megaprojects9649 that doesn't negate my theory though

[@gilbertfranklin1537]

@@megaprojects9649 - LIAR! Your father was a Robot, and your mother was a Cyborg - that makes you an ANDROID! (which is why you talk so friggin fast)... HA! 😎

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

I can well remember seeing S-3Bs on the deck with a fuel tank under one wing and a Harpoon underneath the other. Because of their long range and ability to loiter over an area for long periods they were ideal ship hunters. When we were going through all that crap with Libya and Gaddafi we popped several patrol boats with them. I believe we also hit oil platforms by the Harpoon armed S3. Fabulous plane

[@ces4399]

My favorite Naval aircraft of all time. Watched these aircraft launch on the Kitty Hawk while my ship was assigned to a carrier battle group in the IO back in the 80’s. Interesting that a variant of the TF-34 engine is finding its way as the new engine for the B-52.

[@beyond_the_infinite2098]

Thanks for the cool vid. I was a technican who tested and repaired the AN/ASQ-81 Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) system that detected the subs. The MAD boom detector used an enclosed sphere of a noble gas and lasers excited the gas electrons to a higher energy state and IR detectors measured the photon emission when the electrons returned to their normal orbit. The earth's magnetic field interacts with the photons and changes their frequency so slighty but detectable. The ferrous metal of a submarine causes a large change in magnetic field strength and density and is easily picked by the MAD gear.

[@Pis4perdiem]

The P-3 went on to do even more than the S-3 it replaced and will go equally underappreciated into aviation history except by those who had the privilege of flying her. The P-3 has been adopted by militaries around the globe, government agencies, and researchers alike. The versatility of the airframe has seen it become the go to choice when heavy modifications are required for specific missions, like NOAA flying it through hurricanes, CBP and VX attaching E2 radar domes to them, and so much more. And that's not even getting into what other countries have done with the airframe, like Canada and their CP-140s.

[@xairman565]

The CP-140 Aurora had crew stations set up like the S-3 Viking. Some of the US Navy P-3 guys said they preferred that setup, granted they may have also been former S-3 crewmen.

[@Chris_at_Home]

The P-3 went into service in 1962 and the S- 3 didn’t even fly until 1972. The S-3 didn’t have near the sensor capabilities as a P-3. I was an avionics tech on P-3 before the S-3 even entered service. I was at Pax River and saw both the S-3 and the F-14 undergoing testing there in the early 70s. This base had a catapult and arresting gear installed on a runway to test aircraft for carrier operations.

[@seafodder6129]

Not sure I'd really call the P-3 a "replacement" for the Hoovers. Granted they're picking up the slack on the ASW mission but they do come up a bit short on the cargo/passenger mission as the pilots seem to be a bit reluctant to land/take off from aircraft carriers for some reason...

[@Chris_at_Home]

@@seafodder6129 The S-3 was developed to protect the carrier groups from submarines where as the P-3 was used to detect and track submarines in the open ocean. Very rarely were we ever close to a carrier group. We even used to track subs right off the east coast just outside of territorial limits. Think of flying low while jets fly overhead as they approach Logan Airport in Boston.

[@guymarentette2317]

@@Chris_at_Home For some reason, the Canadian government/military, when they purchased their P3 Orions, chose to go with the S3 ASW electronics rather than what everyone else used. I've never heard why. Might have been cost.

[@beaudavis8771]

i always love going and watching the calfire st-2ts take off and land at our local airport during the fire season, i never knew they used to be sub hunters before their life as modern day dive bombers. Im so glad this video showed up, amazing videos !

[@nickclark9240]

I was an S3 AW3 in 1978 to 1980, 1 MED cruise with VS33 Screwbirds. Tracked lots of subs in the med that summer!

[@garyperkins9254]

I used to work on these jets back in the early 2000s... Absolutely amazing bird and a joy to maintain. VS-38 / CV64

[@stevematson4808]

Me too.and I know about the funny thing in the nose. I also know this, not to ask a female airman for a tunnel qual.

[@markprenger1979]

Lol I was with VS-33 from 02-06 CVN74 and CVN70

[@stevematson4808]

@@markprenger1979 north island?

[@markprenger1979]

@@stevematson4808 yes

[@stevematson4808]

@@markprenger1979 were you there when they were decommissioning the last Vikings ?

[@williamdobbins3131]

My first squadron was VQ-5 Sea Shadows, eventually DET-5. As an Airframer, I loved that airplane.

[@chuck.reichert83]

You should do a video on the A-6 Intruder because it was a beast that couldn't be replaced.

[@mikecanada7652]

Former S-3B NATOPS Instructor/Evaluator VS-41 here, the Bravo upgrades were completed in 1994, not 1984. West Coast squadrons were the last to receive the new avionics/weapons systems upgrades.

[@lancejohnson1406]

It's testing was not as trouble free as you make out. It was so clean it had trouble decelerating, and issues with systems, handling challenges stemming from Lockheed not really having a lot of experience with carrier aircraft. When one senior naval aviator flew it in the eval process, he was asked by the Lockheed reps at NATC Pax River what he thought, prompting the classic response " Is piss poor one word, two words, or hyphenated?". Needless to say, Lockheed got their shit together and fixed the problems. Source: Flying the Edge by George Wilson.

[@Acrophobia2]

Reminds be of the F-35C

[@davidabarak]

I knew someone (maybe the same guy you referenced) who'd been involved in some of the test flying. He told me a few interesting things. At one time (maybe only a wind tunnel model?) the rudder was designed to split left and right to operate as a speed brake, but it caused an unwanted pitch up. Also, there are two "luggage compartments" on the left and right of the rear fuselage, and these voids were supposedly going to be where speed brakes were located.

[@StrokerStevens]

I proudly served as a Parachute Rigger in the US Navy, my last squadron was VS-41 Shamrocks. She was a good bird and we did call the Hoovers.

[@dennishixson1908]

You might know my dad, he was with VS-41 North Island, his rank E-9, senior or master chief petty officer Hixson

[@StrokerStevens]

@@dennishixson1908 I don’t recall, I’m sure I seen him around the hanger. I was checking into the squadron when they were filming the TV mini series “Space”. I got to meet the stars too, James Garner & Beau Bridges. Beau suggest I take a part as an Extra in the film, I declined. Both were super nice guys.

[@dennishixson1908]

@@StrokerStevens Talk to my dad, he was over in maintenance, he said your name does not sound familiar but he might recognize you if he saw you.

[@joerichardson4325]

I passed thru VS-41 Shamrocks as a rag squadron, right after completing avionics A-school, for about 3.5 months during late spring/early summer of '86, just before landing at NAS Cecil Field with the VS-24 Scouts. Still have the ball cap to prove it! Loved North Island! Went on to deploy on the Nimitz (rode her from East coast to West Coast around the Horn after a 5 month Med Cruise in '87), then the Teddy Roosevelt before departing for land-based living! Fair winds to all.

[@billotto602]

I served onboard the USS Forrestal in the late 70's. I wasn't in the S-3 squadron but loved the aircraft. It was the first high bypass fan engine I'd ever seen. Loved it when they started up or went to taxi. They sounded like the Hoover vacuum cleaner they called. Like my beloved A-6, these got retired too soon to make room for the "Bug", the F/A Hornet. 😩😢☹

[@Fortunes.Fool.]

As a kid living in Coronado by NAS North Island these guys were taking off and landing all the time. The VWOOOMP VWOOOOMP when they landed was always fun to hear.

[@rougeneon1997]

Very cool looking plane. Its gigantic vertical stabilizer almost makes it look toy-like in a way.

[@sasquatchishere7453]

Interesting to see a piece of history that directly relates to my own. I served almost 6 years with S-3 Vikings back in he Cold-War days. We called it "jokingly" the War-Pig. It had many features that were quite unique. It was stubby and often joked the ugliest plane on the carrier, I always thought the Hawkeye or SH-3's had that title. We didn't care. Its turbofan engines and airframe were easy to work on. Very roomy cockpit and even had two bomb bays. The one downside was keeping them clean. It was a big airplane and our pilots like to fly low to the ocean. However my favorite testiminial to its true bad-assery - is we were deep-water ops - it lost its radome (the whole nose section) at high altitude. Officially due to a pinhole leak ... scuttlebutt said it was more likely a deliberate dive to over 500+ knots. These birds could barely do 450 knots in level flight. Regardless of the true cause - the plane, (if memory serves me well - number 707), looked like it had been shot to pieces with parts missing, pitot tubes bent, flir about to fall out and yet the mighty Viking took a beating and still made it home to the carrier. Oh get this F14 guys - with an ok 3-wire and fuel to spare on the very 1st attemp to land! That bird became our hangar queen the rest of the cruise. If memory serves me well - I believe she was patched up stateside and flew again. Sadly we lost one plane to the triple-threat of bad weather, poor decisions, and a miscalculated cat shot. The pilot did his best to save the plane but he just didn't have time. The plane dropped a wing and only the back left seater, Senso, got out in time. It was a sad time. But one that is part of naval aviation. Hats off to all that have served. Cheers everyone.

[@EdrickBluebeard]

"On time and within budget" is probably the most miraculous part of this vehicle.

[@weien_024]

Funny how the video immediately came to suggested searches because here in the Philippines, we have a business man who pledge to donate 2 units of this S-3 Viking aircraft for additional ASW of the Philippine military. I guess it soothes my curiosity to know its specifications

[@TedClough]

I've got a couple hundred traps and over 2000 hours in the Viking. It wasn't glamourous, but it was versatile and reliable. We got to do all the cool stuff: formation, drop bombs, shoot rockets, in relative comfort. Unlike the F-4's, F-8's, A-7's and F-18's, fuel was never really an issue. Plus, it flew AND landed great on one engine! Seriously, it was a great airplane.

[@midshipmaniac8406]

I'm from Tucson Arizona, and at Davis Monthan AFB they have a ton of s-3 wrapped up in storage, you can drive right by them.

[@davidthompson9359]

During my 20.5 year Navy career as an S-3A/B AW I flew just short of 3300 hours and 886 traps aboard carriers... I miss the hunt.

[@alankates2866]

Thanks. Just to share, I served in VS-32 USS America during the Cold War. Keep these cool vids coming, Simon.

[@chrisr2925]

Thank you for doing this video. I graduated from VS - 41 from class 2-98S. I was able to watch this video with my son and show him what I did.

[@davidthompson9359]

Great video and you have me in the video at time 15:12-14.... lol. I flew in the S-3A/B Viking for 20 years as an Aircrew AW.

[@santka3739]

Wow! 🇺🇸👌

[@thistlepillow568]

Worked on her from '91 - '95. VS-21. Great bird, great squadron, great people.

[@jeffagain7516]

Yes, this vid is about the Viking but I wanted to give a Shout Out to the amazing Tracker, that I have fond memories of operating. We kept them in Canuck service long past their "best before" date but they were so good at what they did (sub hunt +) and [Yanks wanted more for their Viks than we could afford for such a niche role], they still performed wonderfully, even from land bases. :)

[@brucelindsay6695]

I was in VS-24 when the last S2's left and we received our S3-A's. It was a great aircraft and we soon deployed it to the USS Nimitz. What a time.

[@joerichardson4325]

I was in VS-24 Scouts, as an AT, from '86 thru end of '88. Several short work-up cruises, 2 month NATO cruise (fall of '86), then 5 month Med Cruise (Jan-May '87...was on deck the night that A-3 Skywarrior/"Whale" crashed), then took 1 month to cross equator, RdJ Brazil, then rounded the Horn, up to offload at NASNI then fly back East, as Nimitz went on to Bremerton, WA for new homeport. We then deployed on the T Roosevelt. Exciting times for a young man. Fair winds!

[@CP140405]

It is a relatively poorly known fact that the Canadian CP140 Aurora ( a version of the P-3 Orion) used mission electronics loosely based on the Viking. ... an Aurora former navigator here.

[@markhubbard1688]

And the Canadians operated it with professionalism.

[@jackforbes826]

I got to ride in a US-3. Utility version. Could carry mail and it had 4, maybe it was 6 passenger capacity, I can't remember. Catapult shot off Cat three of the Enterprise in the North Pacific. Landed in Adak Alaska where I hopped a P3 headed for NARF in the bay area. What a privilege to ride both planes. Cool as hell. Especially that cat launch.

[@IronClawGaming]

These plane videos are my favorite megaprojects videos, more please

[@boogyman5733]

always watching from 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🤙🏻☺️🙏🏻 nice voice man keet it up

[@onerimeuse]

Someone else said this below, but I also think right about now we could use a couple of these in the south China sea area. Also, this was the first 3d model I helped up-scale for Harpoon 4 a million years ago. Never knew so much about it until today though. I just remember being impressed with its beautiful curves. Fun times.

[@ifga16]

I was aboard USS Nimitz CVN-68 during the Iranian hostage grab in 1979/80. I remember the S-3 as a fantastic supply plane. They regularly made runs to Diego Garcia and brought back all manner of goodies. This included tropical fish for the ship's aquarium, yes, we had a fish tank by the mess deck maintained by volunteers, including me, for the entertainment of the crew. The Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) version was also great. The C-1 version of the Tracker, was deemed a hazard due to using high octane gasoline vs JP5. The C-3 did not replace the C-2 Greyhound which is still operating with the fleet. I agree that the Osprey variant is no where as useful as the Greyhound or Viking. Just as the F-18 Lawndart is a poor air to air refueling aircraft.

[@gqrob28]

VS-33 Screwbird AT here. Loved my time with the WarHoover!

[@winglessviper]

Have a friend who did 100 "traps" in a Viking. He was also the air boss of the Big E. If you watch Smithsonian "Carrier at war- USS Enterprise", he is in it.

[@rafaelwilks]

10:06 the S3B also featured the newer TF-34-GE-400B.

[@TonyA552]

Thanks for a great video on a great aircraft. I live near a US Naval Air Station where these aircraft flew from for many years. We all called them the "Hoovers" because of the characteristic whooshing sound like an old vacuum cleaner that the engines made in the landing pattern. You never had to look up to see what was flying, hearing it was enough.

[@jimpollard9392]

I flew the "A" model of this plane in the early 80s. Nice video that I only found today. Appreciate it.

[@simonwalker2400]

hahaha "General Dinamycs" good one

[@scotthenderson292]

Please cover how spacesuits work!

[@TEOS_UK]

Just like a scuba diving suit I'd guess 👍🏻

[@Linflas]

VS-31 worked on the avionics on the S-3A when they were brand new. It was a great plane.

[@TheFlutecart]

Hey! - That C2 Greyhound was landing on USS Lexington! I served on Lady Lex from 89-91.

[@BattleCryMuted]

I worked as an electronic technician on their avionics for 9 years 1985 1999, the flight director computer "FDC" mostly, "MAD" mode magnetic anomaly detection mode was insane. Trust me, I would have not wanted to be that pilot when that was engaged. Still proud to be part of that part of history.

[@warrend114]

That was the flight data computer. I still have the bad back from carrying those stupid things all over the place

[@BattleCryMuted]

If I saw a picture, there would be a number of people who probably would say yeah. I gotta laugh, they were a beast, remember testing them on their test stands. Probably contributed to my elder issues also. You are among friends. And when you served, you served well, sorry for the bad lumbar regions,,,,I truly do feel you pain, sir I commend you for your service also. I worked many projects, the SR-71 being+ the most proudest that I had the honor and privilege, but the S3A, was my first....and you always remember your first. I doff my hat to you.@@warrend114

[@life_with_bernie]

Simon, I was already cringing a little every time you said, "Grooman", but that title card with "General Dinamics" on it was really too much. Help me up off the floor here, I think I'm done laughing... though I may giggle unexpectedly over the next week or two when I think about it.

[@starbishop4916]

Since you seem to be on a bit of a fighter kick the past couple of months two fighters you might be interested in looking at if for nothing than personal interest would be the F-111 Aardvark which pioneered most of the technologies that went into the legendary F-14. The other is the absolutely absurd F-104 Starfighter also known as "The missiles with a man in it." Holding simultaneous world records for airspeed, altitude, and time-to-climb in 1958.

[@yolkiandeji7649]

He’s already made a video on the Widowmaker…

[@starbishop4916]

@@yolkiandeji7649 Well that would be why I didn't see it in the list then and generally when someone says Widowmaker I think they're referring to the P61 "Widowmaker" not the F-104 whose official name was "Starfighter". Also wasn't saying he needed to make a video on it. Just that since he seemed to like this sort of thing he might want to look them up as they're interesting aircraft.

[@yolkiandeji7649]

@@starbishop4916 The P-61 was called the Black Widow…

[@starbishop4916]

@@yolkiandeji7649 ....Well shit thats what i get for trusting google images.

[@DriveByShouting]

I’d love to see you do an in depth video on the F-20 ‘Tigershark’. According to many, an outstanding fighter developed from the F-5 Tiger. It was so good that it gave the F-16 a run for its money.

[@moefuggerr2970]

I started in the Navy working on S3A. Then we got S3B. Then I went on to work on the new ES3A. All interesting aircraft.

[@pmgn8444]

Good video. Now do the S-2 Tracker Family. Only one minor nitpick: Lockheed Aircraft Corp developed the S-3. Lockheed Martin didn't exist until the 1995 Lockheed Aircraft Corp/Martin Marietta Corporation merger. Keeping track of the post-1990 whom merged with whom and when and what is the new name is a confusing task.

[@RocketSurgn_]

Hah, had to double check I wasn’t way off in remembering when the merger happened but was going to say the same thing.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:45 - Chapter 1 - Construction 7:10 - Mid roll ads 8:35 - Chapter 2 - Service 14:10 - Chapter 3 - Retirement

[@santka3739]

👍

[@davidhuffman8352]

Love the videos on the underrated and little known aircraft!

[@bobchronister3429]

As a former crewman and instructor in the Viking. I thought it was a great video. Really enjoy MegaProjects. Thank you Simon! A few details were incorrect. But overall a superb video.

[@zf4hp24]

Urban legend or fact? Didn't a War Hoover sink an Iraqi patrol boat by unintentionally pickling a refueling store? Apparently the pilot selected all the wing stores, which included the left-side D-704 "Buddy" pod.

[@Fairly_Epic]

Been watching you forever, love the channel and content. Keep it up... one of the few channels on KZbin that's actually worth watching!!

[@ChattahoocheeRiverRat]

I was ASW Officer on a destroyer in the Mediterranean summer of '80, and worked with S-3s a lot. Interesting hearing the stories of the platform working well, because our experience was the opposite. We'd frequently have an S-3 check in with us with none of their sensor systems working. We'd just have them do a visual search, because at least the aircrew's eyeballs were online. Supposedly, the systems were checked and operational prior to launch, but the stress of the cat shot caused the malfunctions. Electronics on a carrier aircraft that can't handle the cat shot? :(

[@johnknapp952]

Some of my observations of the S3. TF34 engines are the same as those that power the A-10 "Warthog". All the "Black Boxes" were painted Beige, don't know if that's a Lockheed thing or not as boxes out of other aircraft I worked with were Black or a shade of Gray. In the early 70's the computerized repair stations for the electronic boxes ran on tape, not magnetic tape but paper tape and the repair stations themselves were huge things the length of a living room. Really old tech stuff here. But everyone remembers the sound of the engines spooling up and hence the "Hoover" nickname.

[@jackbart1960]

Was a War Hoover sailor VS28/CV62 81-85. Never understood why it was cut. A great versitatile bird.

[@georgesykes394]

Budget concerns at Desert Storm Congress took a Axe to the Defense Budget!

[@KB4QAA]

The Cold War was over and the planes were getting long in the tooth. Saving dollars has been the #1 rule for the last 30 years.

[@jonathanstein1783]

My older brother served aboard the USS Independence (CV62) in their ASW squadron, as an electronics tech, when an S3 was lost due to mechanical failure, I believe. At that time it was the only occasion all four crewmembers successfully ejected from a Viking. I think this was during operation Urgent Fury, the liberation of Granada.

[@blackstone777]

I served in the NAvy and I was an avionics tech on the Viking from 89-93...and my squadron was VS-41, the Shamrocks. Funny thing at the time, I thought is was kinda a "meh" aircraft. Not sexy like a fighter or a down and dirty as a dedicated bomber. but it can do... ASW? check transport? check refueling? check anti-shipping? check medium range bomber? check electronics warfare? check She was the workhorse of the fleet and that's pretty damn cool in my book.

[@LegendaryInfortainment]

The “secret weapon “ of the S3 and P3 aircraft were if memory serves, the “Monkey Senior” data relay and sonobouys which were expelled through the holes in the bottom of the fuselage. The only US nuclear sub that I ever tracked and identified was a lucky channel assigned by an S3 that dropped the sonobouy practically on top of the contact during an Orange/Blue forces exercise. I suspect my antique AN/SQS-54B LAVA set was at it’s very best that day, mo too. Thanks! That was a fun video to watch.

[@joeyr7294]

The E-2C Hawkeye would be a pretty cool vid! As always awesome content Simon and co. 🍻

[@sky_professor3051]

I've always loved that ridiculously large vertical stabilizer.

[@aja9469]

Had about 12 of these from the Matchbox sets when I was like 6..... not as Iconic as an A10 or F16, but still an Iconic bird

[@gregjennings9442]

I love the say that “General Dynamics” is misspelled.

[@ramal5708]

From the SBD, TBF Avenger to S-3 Vikings the US had probably the best carrier based attack aircraft

[@RobertMoore-ji3oj]

Don't forget 2 more A/C, the Guardian and S2f1 tracker also as well

[@coletrainatec]

I got to ride the Greyhound ticket. The aircraft carrier catapult is one hell of a ride.

[@RCaIabraro]

Exquisitely designed for the unique demands of naval aviation

[@twstf8905]

Hahaha why did you guys spell "General Dynamics" that way?! _(General Dinamycs)_ at 4:31 (ish) It just looks weird lol I was like; "That _can't_ be right! Can it?!" 🤣

[@jeffwalther3935]

I cannot emphasize how MUCH I agree. The S-3 ASW capability vs everything else, is paramount in anything coming up strategic, nasty and bad, imho. This birds been MY personal dream machine since I first saw one. It can must and will DO the job designed - that delivers Victory Day. This aircraft's airframes at D.M. AFB should all be immediately restored to service. Each one has all the important stuff of a land based airliner-sized P-3 delivered to the doorstep of where ya need ta be, half the size and weight and twice efficient, . . . wins.

[@philliplopez8745]

S-3 VIKING and A-5 VIGILANTE two of the navys most beautiful aircraft that never got the chance to perform their designed mission .

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this I had an Esci 1/48 S-3A Viking plane 👍✈️

[@elfpimp1]

We used to call these Hoovers because f the sound from. The engines when they adjusted them in flight.. 😁👍

[@andreaslermen2008]

Now you need to do one about the Orion too. And I still wait for the Leopard tank family Mega Project

[@macworks9389]

Two things. Not ALL Aircraft carriers operated the S-3. There was not enough room on Midway class carriers so USS Midway, USS Franklin Roosevelt and USS Coral Sea never had S3 VS squadrons aboard. I was there in the Pentagon the day the decision was made to retire the S3. The requirements officer was briefing the Director of AirWare (Admiral) and when he briefed the budget the Admiral asked, "What happens if we reduce your budget by x%? ( I don't remember the exact figure). The requirements officer said they fleet won't be able to operate. At that point the Admiral looked around the room and said "OK let's get started retiring the S-3. Legacy Looses!" Legacy loses was the theme that year because we had to trade costs for new systems versus older systems. It was going to happen anyway, but it came a year or two sooner than most of us thought it would. I felt bad for the requirements officer.

[@lyfandeth]

LTV: That's Link Temco Vought, later shortened to Vought. In the 60's and 70's Link was also for building training equipment, IIRC.

[@markbailey6230]

I thought it was Ling, Temco Vought. Link made training simulators going back to WWW2.

[@16rumpole]

what a cool looking plane love the wings

[@samuelrivera4542]

Am I one of the few to notice he spelled General Dynamics as "General Dimanycs"? Bloody brilliant!

[@TheEphemeris]

I can see where Battlestar Galactica (the 2004 series) got their inspiration from for the Raptor