Photo credit: www.nasa.gov

NASA’s S-3B Viking Found a New Purpose at the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum

After over a decade of contributing to the research initiatives at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, the S-3B Viking aircraft is embarking on a new and significant journey. It is set to transition from its role at NASA to become an exhibit at the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville, Florida.

This relocation aims to honor Prisoners of War (POW), personnel Missing in Action (MIA), and the families who continue to seek closure regarding their loved ones. The museum serves as a sanctuary where visitors can reflect and gain insights into the experiences of America’s service members through various exhibits and community events.

“We are proud to contribute to this cause,” remarked JD Demers, head of Aircraft Operations at NASA Glenn. “The transfer of the S-3 is beneficial for everyone involved. The museum acquires an aircraft in excellent condition, and our S-3 can still play a meaningful role in commemorating these heroes.”

Initially crafted by Lockheed Martin for anti-submarine warfare, NASA’s S-3B Viking will find its new home at the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, a site where these aircraft once conducted missions. The plane will be exhibited alongside a plaque honoring the 54 service members who lost their lives during S-3 flight operations.

“We’re fortunate to receive an airframe that has been well-maintained and is visually stunning as part of our memorial area,” stated Ed Turner, executive director of the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum. “Cecil Field was historically significant for S-3B Vikings on the East Coast, and it’s an honor to showcase one of its legacy aircraft here.”

In its previous role, this S-3 was instrumental in advancing NASA’s research by providing essential parts to its sister plane, another S-3B Viking that was retired in 2021. This collaboration allowed ongoing communications research related to advanced air mobility, as well as efforts to monitor algal blooms in Lake Erie.

“This aircraft extension provided an extra decade of operational life to its sister plane,” Demers explained. “These additional years were crucial for research, enabling continued flight operations since the Navy retired the S-3B Vikings in 2009. We would have struggled to find replacement parts otherwise.”

The U.S. Navy operated S-3 Vikings from three main installations: North Island Naval Air Station, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Notably, Jacksonville previously lacked a display aircraft, a gap now filled by the arrival of the S-3B Viking.

“With each of the three bases now showcasing an S-3, it’s fitting that the aircraft returns to its place of origin,” said Demers. “It truly belongs here.”

Source
www.nasa.gov