New A-3D Skywarrior Makes Final Landing at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor

An A-3D Skywarrior, also called the “Whale” because of its immense size, arrived at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. It became the 30^th aircraft to join the Museum’s growing collection. It will be restored and put on display in Hangar 79. VIP guests will view it at a special “Whale of an Evening” reception at the Museum tonight, Friday, March 8.

A-3D Skywarrior makes it's final landing

On June 21, 2011, Raytheon flew Skywarrior #144867 from Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California to the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. On February 3, 2012, the Whale started its journey to its next place in history at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Hawaii. The USS Midway Museum assisted.

A-3D Skywarrior moved into place

The Skywarriors were first used as tactical nuclear bombers and were the heaviest aircraft ever to be operational on the Navy’s aircraft carriers.

A-3D Skywarrior on an aircraft carrier deck

“This Skywarrior was removed from active Navy service in October 1968 and was on loan to Hughes Aircraft, now Raytheon, for radar and avionics testing for the Grumman F-14 program and as a B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber avionics test bed,” said Museum Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff. “It has quite a history and we’re pleased to give it a new home.”

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation museum on historic Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in The Pacific Region, and to preserve Pacific aviation history.

The Museum, located at 319 Lexington Boulevard in Hangars 37 and 79 on Historic Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, recently, was ranked one of the “top ten aviation attractions” nationally by TripAdvisor. The Museum is accessed by air-conditioned shuttle buses from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Phone (808) 441-1000 or visit www.PacificAviationMuseum.org for tickets and more information.

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