EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Tactical Flight Operations - Unique Aircraft

By Fred Harl

The Aero Experience concludes our series on tactical flight operations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 with a look at several unique aircraft that flew during the week or were on display in Boeing Plaza. NASA's Lockheed S-3 Viking was initially accepted into U.S. Navy service in 1978, and it was acquired by NASA in 2003. The aircraft is configured to test communications equipment for unmanned aerial vehicles, but it can be fitted with up to 14,000 pounds of test equipment for a variety of missions. NASA plans to fly the aircraft until 2020. The MC-12 Liberty (Hawker Beechcraft Super King Air 350)  serves as an aerial intelligence gathering and command center platform. The MC-12 crews can turn the tide of battle quickly by coordinating fire from ground forces or air assets to eliminate the threat to friendly forces. The T-6B Texan II shown here is flown at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River, MD.