Photographer Benjamin Knowles - just arrived at MASDC, probably from VR-1, VIP transport. note Dept. of the Navy badge - back in service september 1980

An extremely rare sight in 2004, an active Skywarrior taxiing with the wings folded up. Returning from the engine run up area, the red device on the engine is preventing any foreign objects damage. According to FAA registry this aircraft is still owned by the U.S. Navy, flight operations are managed by Raytheon Flight Test Operations at Van Nuys. This aircraft took part in Operation Desert Storm wearing bureau number 144865.

4/60: TOS USN as A3D-2T. 7/62: Redesignated TA-3B. 1987: Bailed to Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems.1989: Converted to ERA-3B assigned to VQ-2, NS Rota Spain. By 8/90: VQ-2 as an EA-3B. Ca.12/90 to ca.4/91: Deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm.  15 Mar 1994; Bailed to Raytheon Corporation and registered N875RS. 20 Jun 2011: Flown to the Naval Aviation Museum.

On the museum wash rack for annual maintenance. Built as A3D-2T (TA-3B) BuNo. 144865 in April 1960. Eventually converted to EA-3B. Still in service with VQ-2 in 1991. Transferred to Raytheon Corp. in 1994 and used for research and development. Flown from Van Nuys, California to museum in June 2011. That was the last flight of an A-3 Skywarrior.