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RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE
PAGE.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft operated in Vietnam in 1968. The Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star was built by the Lockheed Greenhouse works.
Only eleven Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft were built. Nine Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft were deployed to Vietnam. Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star planes operated out of Hue Phu Bai, Long Thang North and Binh Thuy in 1970 - 71.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft were silent at 1,000 feet, but often flew much lower.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft had night vision aerial periscopes (NVAP) with an infra red illuminator. Some Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft had laser target designators.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star propellers were driven by a 12 belt reduction system that kept the tips of the propeller subsonic.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft were slow flyers - about 70 knots.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft had a four hour mission capabilities.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft operated for eighteen months (summer '70 to fall '71.) The planes never took a round or were shot down.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star engines were Continental IO-360. Propellers were wooden.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft were painted with a special radar absorbing paint. When the pilot turned off the transponder the tower could not pick up the plane on radar.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star planes were used briefly by the Louisiana Fish and Game after Vietnam. The planes were too successful at catching illegal shrimpers and Louisiana sold them to the FBI. The Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star was the 1st and last aircraft in the FBI Air Force.
Today NASA still uses one of the Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star aircraft as an airborne acoustic platform for rotorcraft acoustic testing. It was also involved in sonic boom testing.
Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star 69-18007 is currently undergoing restoration at Cable Airport. We hope to have it up and flying in a couple of years. Lots of good info at www.yo-3a.com.
The above information is from our friend Kurt Olney - Crew Chief YO-3A 69-18007, Hue Phu Bai, RVN 1970 - 1971, Vice President Quiet Aircraft Assn.
