thedrifter
05-15-09, 10:39 AM
Wasp Brings Cold War-Era Aircraft Home
Story Number: NNS090513-14
Release Date: 5/13/2009 10:25:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Edward Kobobel, USS Wasp Public Affairs
USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) is supporting a relocation project for an EA-3B Skywarrior, transporting it from Rota, Spain, back to the United States.
The amphibious assault carrier is returning from redeploying Marines in the European Area of Responsibility and will arrive in Norfolk with an extra aircraft.
Retired in 1991, the Skywarrior is commonly called a "Whale" because, at one time, it was the heaviest type aircraft on board a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
For more than 16 years this particular "Rota Whale" sat on the lawn of the bachelor officer quarters at Naval Station Rota, Spain, as a memorial to the men who flew these aircraft and played an important role during the Cold War.
However, two years ago the base could no longer maintain the aircraft, and the A-3 Skywarrior Association helped find a new home for the aircraft.
After looking through a list of potential locations, the association chose the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Ala. A-3 Skywarrior Association representative Tom Brennan has been preparing the aircraft for its eventual transit back to the United States.
"It was a lot of work," said Brennan. "We spent a lot of time cleaning up the aircraft. We had to fold down the wings and the fantail. We also replaced the tires, and for the first time in 16 years the aircraft sat on its own wheels."
In addition to preparing the aircraft, the association needed to find the right ship to transport the aircraft across the Atlantic.
The Whale was originally designed for the Navy as a bomber, which explains its large size. Due to financial limitations, hiring a large crane to lift the aircraft onto a normal cargo ship was not feasible. When Brennan heard that Wasp was making a port visit to Rota, he contacted the ship to see if it could help.
"I spoke with several people on Wasp," said Brennan. "They told me they would be happy to help and that this would be a great evolution for them."
Wasp was an ideal choice for the task because it was already scheduled to return to the United States, and because its flight deck was lightly loaded.
Also working in their favor was Wasp's aircraft crash crane, which is also used to raise and lower the ship's brow when pier side.
"If Wasp hadn't come along, we were not sure when the right opportunity would come up again," Brennan said. "I was never absolutely positive that this was even going to happen. Even when they where raising the aircraft with the crane, I had butterflies in my stomach. But when it finally sat down on the elevator, I knew it was done and in the hands of flight deck professionals and I could finally relax. We couldn't have done the job without Wasp and its positive, can-do attitude."
Wasp is expected to unload the aircraft onto a barge from its pier once the ship arrives in Norfolk. From there, the barge will carry the "Whale" to its new home in Alabama.
For more news from USS Wasp (LHD 1), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd1/.
Ellie
Story Number: NNS090513-14
Release Date: 5/13/2009 10:25:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Edward Kobobel, USS Wasp Public Affairs
USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) is supporting a relocation project for an EA-3B Skywarrior, transporting it from Rota, Spain, back to the United States.
The amphibious assault carrier is returning from redeploying Marines in the European Area of Responsibility and will arrive in Norfolk with an extra aircraft.
Retired in 1991, the Skywarrior is commonly called a "Whale" because, at one time, it was the heaviest type aircraft on board a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
For more than 16 years this particular "Rota Whale" sat on the lawn of the bachelor officer quarters at Naval Station Rota, Spain, as a memorial to the men who flew these aircraft and played an important role during the Cold War.
However, two years ago the base could no longer maintain the aircraft, and the A-3 Skywarrior Association helped find a new home for the aircraft.
After looking through a list of potential locations, the association chose the Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Ala. A-3 Skywarrior Association representative Tom Brennan has been preparing the aircraft for its eventual transit back to the United States.
"It was a lot of work," said Brennan. "We spent a lot of time cleaning up the aircraft. We had to fold down the wings and the fantail. We also replaced the tires, and for the first time in 16 years the aircraft sat on its own wheels."
In addition to preparing the aircraft, the association needed to find the right ship to transport the aircraft across the Atlantic.
The Whale was originally designed for the Navy as a bomber, which explains its large size. Due to financial limitations, hiring a large crane to lift the aircraft onto a normal cargo ship was not feasible. When Brennan heard that Wasp was making a port visit to Rota, he contacted the ship to see if it could help.
"I spoke with several people on Wasp," said Brennan. "They told me they would be happy to help and that this would be a great evolution for them."
Wasp was an ideal choice for the task because it was already scheduled to return to the United States, and because its flight deck was lightly loaded.
Also working in their favor was Wasp's aircraft crash crane, which is also used to raise and lower the ship's brow when pier side.
"If Wasp hadn't come along, we were not sure when the right opportunity would come up again," Brennan said. "I was never absolutely positive that this was even going to happen. Even when they where raising the aircraft with the crane, I had butterflies in my stomach. But when it finally sat down on the elevator, I knew it was done and in the hands of flight deck professionals and I could finally relax. We couldn't have done the job without Wasp and its positive, can-do attitude."
Wasp is expected to unload the aircraft onto a barge from its pier once the ship arrives in Norfolk. From there, the barge will carry the "Whale" to its new home in Alabama.
For more news from USS Wasp (LHD 1), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd1/.
Ellie