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Lockheed S-3 Viking
The last production
S-3A was delivered in August 1978. The inventory
includes S-3As and S-3Bs. Sixteen S-3As were
converted to ES-3 Shadows for carrier-based
electronic reconnaissance (ELINT) duties.
A few units were also converted for utility
and limited cargo duty, known as the US-3B,
all of which were retired by 1998. Plans were
also made to develop the KS-3A version out
of the basic airframe, a carrier-based tanker
aircraft to replace the retired KA-6 but these
were ultimately cancelled.
On May 1, 2003, US President
George W. Bush rode in the co-pilot seat of
a Viking that landed on the aircraft carrier
USS Abraham Lincoln, where he delivered his
"Mission Accomplished" speech announcing
the end of major combat in the 2003 invasion
of Iraq. That Navy flight is the only one
to use the callsign "Navy One".
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