EA-6B Prowler - Castle Air Museums latest aquisition!

[Spectre_I]

Arrived yesterday. Will be out on display very shortly.

Showing off a little on arrival.


Well done! Final crew shot.


Welcome to your new home!

[sandiego89]

Well done, you guys are really making some news! Was a regular stop of mine when I lived in the SF Bay area.

She looks a bit naked without the jamming pods, likely still wanted by the Prowlers still in service and the EF-18 Growlers, too bad they could not give you some dummy pods.

[Spectre_I]

Well done, you guys are really making some news! Was a regular stop of mine when I lived in the SF Bay area.

She looks a bit naked without the jamming pods, likely still wanted by the Prowlers still in service and the EF-18 Growlers, too bad they could not give you some dummy pods.

I overheard one of the crew members say exactly that: "She looks a bit naked without the jamming pods"

We're working on getting some dummy pods / training aids. Like you said, they're still using most of 'em. We'll get 'em.

[LysanderUK]

A great acquisition, and one that doesn't need to go in the restoration queue!

What is the final out of service date for the last Prowlers?

[sandiego89]

What is the final out of service date for the last Prowlers?

2019.

US Navy Prowlers to phase out in 2015 (and are nearly gone now), US Marines until @2019 I believe. Marines are getting some of the best Navy Prowlers as the Navy sqaudrons transtion to EF-18G

[LysanderUK]

Thanks! It's nice to know that some will be around for a few more years to come.

[Spectre_I]

Had a great day with the Navy de-mil crew today. They've got this down to a science. Our retired USN volunteers saw that they were treated like kings

Interesting tid-bit: The pic showing the pilot "showing off" was nothing of the sort. The pilot had asked for / planned a straight in approach. He was low on gas and didn't want to play. At about 200', his trim "went nuts" and put him in a steep climb. Nice full throttle recovery and a safe landing.

As stated above, these are the oldest Prowlers just now being retired. Guess it had an "issue"

We've got some stuff to do yet, it'll be out by Memorial day.

[Rod Schneider]

Just curious, what did the de-mil crew actually do to the airplane?

[Spectre_I]

Just curious, what did the de-mil crew actually do to the airplane?

Basically, they remove anything still classified and in view. They strip it of anything still useful. Once done with that, they physically wreck it. Anything under pressure or explosive is popped or removed. Although it looks pristine on the outside, they see to it that the engines will never run again, the wings will never lock, etc. Wires are cut, hoses busted, etc. When they are done, the only way it'll ever move (or stop) again is by tug.

[misterblitz]

Just curious, what did the de-mil crew actually do to the airplane?

Basically, they remove anything still classified and in view. They strip it of anything still useful. Once done with that, they physically wreck it. Anything under pressure or explosive is popped or removed. Although it looks pristine on the outside, they see to it that the engines will never run again, the wings will never lock, etc. Wires are cut, hoses busted, etc. When they are done, the only way it'll ever move (or stop) again is by tug.

I understand the need for the process, but it's still heartbreaking. I have many hours in that airframe in a variety of places. I'll have to drop by for a visit when she gets on display.

[Spectre_I]

Just curious, what did the de-mil crew actually do to the airplane?

Basically, they remove anything still classified and in view. They strip it of anything still useful. Once done with that, they physically wreck it. Anything under pressure or explosive is popped or removed. Although it looks pristine on the outside, they see to it that the engines will never run again, the wings will never lock, etc. Wires are cut, hoses busted, etc. When they are done, the only way it'll ever move (or stop) again is by tug.

I understand the need for the process, but it's still heartbreaking. I have many hours in that airframe in a variety of places. I'll have to drop by for a visit when she gets on display.

It's out! I'll put up another thread. This wasn't the worst de-mil I've seen (you should've seen what they did to the F-14D!). In this case, they just took some of the electronics, but left the cockpit intact - at least to the untrained eye. They also spiked the engines. Of course the ejection seat rockets are removed, and they popped the fire extinguishers when they were shutting it down for the last time. Other than that, it's complete. All the lines are intact and they didn't even drain any fluid.

[Spectre_I]

Hrmm. Posted pics of this out. Seem to have vanished, and not for the first time. Did I violate some rule, mods?

What is the final out of service date for the last Prowlers?

2019.

US Navy Prowlers to phase out in 2015 (and are nearly gone now), US Marines until @2019 I believe. Marines are getting some of the best Navy Prowlers as the Navy sqaudrons transtion to EF-18G

MCAS Cherry Point, NC will be the last bastion of the Prowlers for the next 4 years. Hopefully they will be highlighted at MCAS Cherry Point air shows in 2016 and 2018.

[Scott Rose]

Nice! I'll have to add it to the registry!