A NASA-owned S-3B Viking aircraft that helped support research missions for over a decade will be displayed at the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville, Florida.
The S-3B Viking, which formed part of the US Navy fleet, was originally designed by Lockheed Martin as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft and were operational during the Gulf War and in Afghanistan.
According to the National Naval Aviation Museum, the S-3B Viking was nicknamed the ‘Hoover’ due to the sound of its engines.
Over the years, NASA adopted four S-3Bs to support research, which included environmental monitoring and satellite communications testing.
On April 16, 2025, NASA announced that an S-3B Viking, which supported a sister aircraft by donating parts would retire to a new home and be placed on display to honor all Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA).
The museum is located at the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field where S-3B Vikings once flew and in recognition of the 54 service members who perished during S-3 flight missions a plaque will be displayed next to the aircraft.
“We are honored to be part of it,” said JD Demers, Chief of Aircraft Operations at NASA Glenn. “Moving the S-3 is a win-win for everybody. The museum gets an aircraft in beautiful shape, and our S-3 gets to continue living a meaningful life.”
Through the donation of its parts to its sister aircraft, registered N601NA, the S-3 contributed to communications research in advanced air mobility and monitoring of algal bloom growth in Lake Erie.
“Having this aircraft added an extra 10 years of life to its sister plane,” Demers said. “Those 10 years were vital for research. This plane allowed us to keep flying that aircraft after the Navy retired the S-3B Vikings in 2009. We wouldn’t have been able to find parts.”
NASA highlighted the importance of the museum for giving visitors a “place of solace to reflect, learn, and hear stories about America’s POW and MIA service members through exhibits and events”.
“It’s really fortunate for us that this S-3 has such a well-kept, beautiful airframe that we can use as part of this plaza,” said Ed Turner, Executive Director of the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum. “Cecil Field was the East Coast home for the S-3B Vikings, so we are proud to have it for display here as one of Cecil’s legacy aircraft.”
The US Navy flew S-3 Vikings primarily out of three locations: North Island Naval Air Station, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. There were S-3B Vikings in all locations except Jacksonville, until now.
“There are three bases in three locations that used to fly S-3s, and now each area has an S-3 as part of its display,” Demers said. “It belongs there. It’s going back to its original home.”
N601NA retired in 2021 after flying for 16 years on a variety of NASA research missions.
