A-3 SKYWARRIOR WHIDBEY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
P.O. BOX 1402
OAK HARBOR, WA 98277

Project Status and Restoration Updates

   The home for our new Whale!

Click on images for a larger view

Click here to see the sign being installed!

Click here for the Whidbey News Times article about the installation of the sign



Click here for the fly-in of the A-3!
  

Restoration update as of 16 Nov 2011 -   So as you can see 144825 now has an RA nose radome (bullnose) and a version tail installed (duckbutt).   Along with that the conduit fairing run has been removed from the stbd side and some metal work has been done to start prepping 825 for paint.   Many thanks to the Commanding Officer of VQ-2 for the use of his hangar! At this time '825 is back outside in front of the "Whitehouse". Hopefully it will be back inside as it's cold working on the line.   Here's a list of projects signed off or awaiting maintenance   Tail R&R - Complete Nose Radome R&R - Complete Conduit fairing run removed - Complete   Patch wire run holes in stbd fuselage - In Work Fill in conduit run fairing screw holes - In Work   Lower door bungee cable replacement - In work (Need to grade 4 the cable and replace the door panels) Thanks to the guys at the FRC Northwest airframes and welding shops for the help with the cable!! 
    
Manufacture and install stbd upper wing fold panel - Awaiting Maintenance   Jack the aircraft - Awaiting Maintenance Fill main and nose wheel tires with foam - Awaiting Maintenance (This requires a set of jack pads, Mike Glenn is looking into his pre-ex to see if he has a spare set we can borrow. We will need to coordinate with FRC Northwest to get the jacks. Some creative comshawing will need to be performed in order to get hangar space for about two weeks, hopefully during the holiday period.)   Pencil drain fuel tanks - Awaiting Maintenance    Procure strut locks - Awaiting Maintenance   Aircraft Paint Prep - Awaiting Maintenance Removing Raytheon decals Identify and treat corrosion and corrosion prone areas Sealing up doors, hatches, panels Scuff sand aircraft   Aircraft Paint - Awaiting Maintenance Paint scheme - Original Paint Procurment - NAS Whidbey Island and a possible donation Stencil transfer paper - NAS Whidbey Island Cutting stencils - VAQ-129 Aircraft painting - VQ-2 and volunteers Stencil application - VAQ-129/VQ-2 and volunteers    

   

             

 ------------------------------

RESTORATION UPDATE

20 OCT 2011

 

 

 

 

 

    ------------------------------

RESTORATION UPDATE

18 OCT 2011

 

Today Jim, Jeff, Bill, Barney Ralph (and a little bit of help from me during my lunch hour) they were able to mate up the Duck Butt tail to '825.

 

The holes lined up, but there were some differences between the way the two tails mount up. Nothing that a little elbow grease from Active Duty Airframes muscle and the retired old guys couldn't overcome.

VQ-2 Night Check Airframes cleaned, prepped and primed the mating surfaces so they would be ready for install today.

With the tail on we now need to finish installing the bolts and then get it ready to be sealed.

Jim and Jeff had to leave early, and with nothing more to do to the tail Barny, Bill, AM3 Dinger and myself went at removing the missile nose radome from the aircraft.   "It's easy" I said, and it was until me and AM3 had to remove the radome. Seems "someone" forgot the two hidden bolts" (that's me).

AM3 Dinger removed them and within 5 minutes we had the missile nose off the bird and on the deck.

I would not be supprised if Barny, Bill and AM3 Dinger had the shark nose RA radome installed.

Work progresses, next up will be the removal of the wing pylons and then to start fabricating patches to cover the various wiring and cooling holes in the aircraft.
 

Bill, Barney, Ralph and AM2 Dinger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  ------------------------------

 

RESTORATION UPDATE

11 OCT 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ------------------------------

 

 

29 June 2011 Meeting with NASWI 

 

1. On 6/29/11 at 1300 hours, Ralph Estes, Joe Hawkins and I met with Bill MacMillan (Airfield Mgr), CDR Dan Worra (OPSO), Mark VanOort (Airfield Facilities Mgr), Kim Martin (PAO), and Scarano (Air Terminal) to address the priorities of the A-3 Skywarrior Whidbey Memorial Foundation. Bill MacMillan opened with support for our efforts, and indicated an openness to address our proposed modifications and possible airborne display, dependent upon structural engineering analysis.

2. A packet was provided to each attendee which included: (1) a cover photo of a NRA-3B with the bull nose and desired duck butt; (2) second photo of a NRA-3B with no conduit on the starboard fuselage; (3) a listing of our desired changes to the nose radome, duck butt, paint scheme, bomb racks/fairings, conduit removal, and engine preservation mod; (4) a listing of site plan display options, including dirty configuration(s), dirty airborne and clean airborne with our overall consensus desiring the latter clean and airborne display; (5) list of applicable tech manuals; (6) sample of desired support equipment nomenclature and part numbers; (7) sample part requisition addressed to NNAM; and (8) our proposed "hold harmless agreement" still with the legal office for review. We reiterated our fundamental goal of providing an A-3 aircraft for display with a 1960's era presentation as expressed in our Constitution, By-Laws, previous draft MOU, and as the foundation for our non-profit status with the State of Washington and the IRS. A picture of many A-3s on the NASWI flight line taxiing drew considerable interest, and further provided a basis for our request.

3. After discussion about a letter to the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) to respond to the standard loan agreement, it was determined that the A3SWMF would provide a summary within the next ten days to list desired modfications to the 144825 airframe, that a timetable for ready for display would be 01 October 2012, and all desired configuration changes, need for parts/ equipment, desired system functionality to be retained, and any other issues that should be addressed to NNAM regarding this project. If anyone has any specific issues which they feel should be addressed in our letter/email to NASWI to be forwarded to NNAM, then feel free to inform me prior to July 6, 2011. I will then prepare a response to the NASWI request for everyone's review and comments, and shortly thereafter provide the final draft to NASWI as soon as possible therafter, but absolutely no later than July 11, 2011.

4. Of issue to NASWI, is the current status of fuel and oil onboard 144825. Joe Hawkins will coordinate with Bill MacMillan, et.al. to defuel the aircraft and remove all oil in order to minimize the risk of any hazmat or environmental concerns.

5. By separate correspondence, Ralph received confirmation from Ron W. that Raytheon does in fact still have the bull nose radome and duck butt tail section. Bill MacMillan and CDR Worra indicated that Ken Ballard was still on track to get those items to NASWI, to include shipping data if I understood correctly. We have proposed possible airborne mounting points to be the jack points on the wings, tail and possibly nose section dependent upon a structural engineering analysis for an airborne configuration situated only four to six feet off the ground. There is an issue of whether a fence will be required per the loan agreement; however, NASWI has stated all along that they want the display accessible to the public and are against having any fences.

6. The discussion and proposals do provide an opportunity (time) to raise sufficient funding to cover the cost of our desired goals. However, our projected expenses over the next year is substantial and will require a bonafide effort on our part to raise possibly another $80K (if not more). The Gateway Project cost $162.7K for two aircraft, and included financial support from the City of Oak Harbor (which does not apply to us). We may get some help from donated labor/materials; however, we are in uncharted territory in that an A-3 has never before been mounted in an airborne clean configuration beyond wind tunnel testing. Ralph and I briefly discussed some of our costs to include: (1) restoration materials (disposal material used for sanding, taping, prepping, etc) $4 to 6K minimum per other projects; (2) structural engineering design work, est $10 to 20K; (3) structural site prep to include iron work, est $60K; (4) site plan prep to include lighting/walkway, possible $6 to 8K; (5) marble memorial, est $28K; and (6) pavers, est $6 to 10K. Thus, minimum estimate of $114 to maximum estimate of $132K. Those numbers will drop from donations by contractors; however, it provides a starting point from which to work towards with regards to raising funds to do it right. We still have not addressed any costs related to movement of the aircraft from the flight line to the approved site location.

7. The CONA celebration on July 30th will permit a tent and table at the A-3 aircraft flight line display as well as in the exhibit section of the hangar. I have a 12' X 12' tent used for baseball that will be available, and am looking at a portable table. Brochures are in work with Jack Stiltz of Bay Printing and will expect 2500 copies for under $500, as approved at our Saturday meeting. Following the meeting Ralph and I visited several possible routes from the NASWI flight line to get to the display site, and there are no easy solutions based on trees, traffic lights, low hanging cables/wires, street signs, etc. Overall, we are moving in the right direction and just need to keep forging ahead until we get the desired final result. Keep the pressure on any and all funding sources.

 
Whales Forever, Bill Young 

  From Ralph Estes, Chairman A-3 to Whidbey Project

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

There is a Charter Membership Meeting at 11:00 am, Saturday, June 18th at Flyers Restaraunt in Oak Harbor, WA.

 

Good afternoon all, this is a quick update as to where the Foundation stands.

We have applied for our own non-profit status as the National A-3 Association wishes to drop us from their 501(3)(C) program so they can get on with their other projects.

 

A couple of items that are paramount to our future.

 

With the non-profit status we are required by law to have current up to date by laws.

 

Bill Young is updating them now.

 

More importantly we must have:

1. A PRESIDENT

2. A TREASURER

3. A SECRETARY

 

There may be other positions, these come to mind immediately.

 

Without these positions filled we don't become a non-profit association.

 

And frankly, I don't know what we would do in that case.

The Law Firm of Skinner & Saar has been working with us in many phases of our legal requirements.

 

One of their attorneys, Leif Johnson, has worked very close with us on this non-profit status and other than the outright cost to the state and the federal government they are doing this pro-bono.

Therefore, the purpose of this meeting is once we have you in the room we simply won't let you out until we have all the officers we need for meeting the Feds rules for non-profit status.

 

Although I joke about this, it's very serious, we must have these officers on board and in writing before the feds will authorize our 501(3) (C) status.

We have several volunteers to work on the aircraft, however, we have been asked not to work on the plane until after CONA.

 

We do have one requirement to complete by the 28th of July.

 

A plaque on the side of the aircraft that states the plane is on loan from the Naval Air Museum, Pensacola, FL.

 

I have the correct wording in another e-mail and will bring it with me to the meeting.

 

There may be some other requirements by NASW before the meeting on the 18th.

Please drop me an e-mail if you will attend.

 

Greg Tritt (owner of Flyers) has given us a room again.

Please take this seriously and consider a position.

Also pass the word around about this meeting.

Thank you, Ralph Estes, Chairman A-3 to Whidbey Project.

 

Ralph E. Estes III [d7sus4@msn.com]

 

 

Location of Flyers Restaraunt

www.eatatflyers.com

 

   

“SAVE THE WHALE”

On October 28, 1952 the Douglas Aircraft Corporation built A-3 Skywarrior aircraft took to the skies for the first time.  After retiring from the fleet in 1991, the “Whale” has continued to fly for nearly six decades, performing in flight system testing for the Raytheon Corporation in Van Nuys, CA.  The distinct sound of the two Pratt & Whitney J-57 engines were often clearly and quickly identified as coming from an A-3 in the groove, with LSO comments like “sounds good, keep it coming”.  Initially designed as a long range nuclear bomber, the mission of the A-3 transitioned to heavy attack, and later electronic countermeasures, electronic surveillance, photo reconnaissance and in-flight refueling tanker aircraft. 

 

Over time the lessons learned and many personnel from the A-3 community were transposed into A-6 Medium Attack Intruders and EA-6B Electronic Attack Prowlers, and more recently into EA-18G Growlers.  Squadron designations evolved into VAH, VAQ, VAP, VQ, and VAK.  The two early primary bases for A-3s were at Whidbey Island, Washington and Sanford, Florida.  Who could comprehend a small “27-Charlie” carrier with a dozen heavy attack Whales onboard? 

 

During the Cold War and Vietnam Conflict, many lives were saved or preserved by virtue of the A-3 aircraft and her crews performing their missions, often with aircrew and maintenance personnel creativity as new challenges evolved.  One late 1960’s deployment on the USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) reportedly had 69 aircraft saved as a result of the reliable “Whale” delivering fuel as needed.  Many a fighter/attack pilot found themselves seeking “Texaco”, synonymous with “where is the A-3 or Whale?, on double cycles or when the bolter pattern became full. 

 

Now, the A-3 Whales are seeking another type of “Texaco” or face certain demise at the hands of chippers.  The Navy has decided to remove the A-3 Skywarrior aircraft from its inventory, and by May 1^st, 2010 those remaining assets will need to be destined for museums or static displays or face being chipped into recycled metal on site in order to save funds.   Three A-3s at Mojave Desert were recently destroyed and lost forever from being preserved as a part of naval history.  What can we do?

 

Veterans from the Northwest and Whidbey Island area formed the A-3 Skywarrior Whidbey Memorial Foundation in conjunction with the A-3 Skywarrior Association and are making a strong effort to raise the necessary funding to make a permanent display for one of the remaining flyable assets. 

 

The Whidbey Memorial Foundation has established a charter membership through June 1^st,  2010 for a minimum tax deductible donation of $125.  Ralph Estes, Bill Burklow, Jim VanderHoek and Bill Young are leading the charge with the able assistance of many others.   Your help to “Save the Whale” is urgently needed at Whidbey, Charleston, Mobile, Edwards, Castle and elsewhere, and time is of the essence.   

 

More information is available at the following websites:  www.a3skywarriorforwhidbey.org and www.a3skywarrior.com or contact

The A-3 Skywarrior Whidbey Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 1402, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.