Aircraft Gallery
S-3 Viking
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 4
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan:
Unfolded: 68 ft 8 in (20.93 m)
Folded: 29 ft 6 in (9.00 m)
Height: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)
Empty weight: 26,581 lb (12,057 kg)
Loaded weight: 38,192 lb (17,324 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-2 turbofans, 9,275 lbf (41.26 kN) each
Maximum speed:
429 kn (493 mph, 795 km/h) at sea level
Mach 0.79, 450 kn (514 mph, 828 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Cruise speed: 350 kn (405 mph, 650 km/h)
Range: 2,765 nm (3,182 mi, 5,121 km
Combat Radius: 853 km[39] (530 mi))
Ceiling: 40,900 ft (12,465 m)
The S-3 Viking was the first sub-hunting carrier jet. Due to its small size, the Viking featured space-saving multi-tasking readout displays, allowing the crew to interpret data from several sensors simultaneously. The S-3’s wing and turbofan engine combination improved cruise control, an important feature when prowling for submarines. Employing radar, sonobuoys, magnetic detectors, electronic surveillance gear, and torpedoes, the S-3 was a vital supplement to the carrier battlegroup’s submarine protection.
