Lockheed S-3 Viking
The Lockheed S-3 Viking was the US Navy's dedicated carrier-based jet for hunting submarines, distinctive for its high-mounted wing and unusually short, stubby fuselage built to fit within a carrier's tight below-deck hangar space. Its folding wings and tail fold even further than most carrier aircraft, letting more Vikings pack into the same limited hangar area. After the end of the Cold War reduced the submarine threat, many were repurposed for aerial refuelling and general carrier-support duties before the type's eventual retirement in 2016. A small number continue to fly with NASA as testbed and support aircraft, extending the type's working life well past its Navy retirement.
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Did you know?
The S-3 Viking's high-mounted wing and stubby fuselage let it fold compactly into a carrier's tight hangar deck.
Specifications
| Length | 16.3 m (53 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 20.9 m (69 ft) |
| Height | 6.9 m (23 ft) |
| Persons on board | 4 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 23.8 t |
| Range | 2,300 NM (4,260 km) |
| Maximum speed | 429 kt (795 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 40,000 ft (12,192 m) |
| Rate of climb | 4,450 ft/min (22.6 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 5,750 l |
| Engines | 2x General Electric TF34 |
| Units built | 188 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Lockheed S-3 Viking starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Lockheed, the S-3 Viking family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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