Yes, we envied the Navy guys as the AD1 had a much more powerful (and reliable) engine than the Air Force B-66.  I remember seeing many EB-66s sitting on the ramp with one or more engines missing.  Wasn't this later called the A3D?  As I recall the Navy guys said it stood for "All 3 Dead" - the SkyWarrior normally had a crew of 3.

 

We used to joke about having two engines was good.  Two to go out on and one to come home on. 

I lost a friend due to those lousy engines.  As was not uncommon, he was returning on one engine at night, attempted to make a go around and the other engine blew - no time for anyone to get out.  Aways sad to lose a friend, but particularly due to faulty equipment.

 

Ed

From: Lehanover@aol.com

Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 7:12 AM

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Ed Anderson's old "ride", off topic

The aircraft was actually developed for the Navy as the AD1 Sky Warrior. Then later mods for the Air Force as the RB66. I watched many launch and recover from the USS Forrestal.

 

Look here: http://www.vectorsite.net/avskywar.html

 

Lynn E. Hanover

AO3 USS Forrestal

 

In a message dated 3/17/2012 7:00:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, eanderson@carolina.rr.com writes:

Actually, Bill, being the EW,  I flew to the right and back of the pilot in
the E model - so that was the seat cushion that needed replacing {:>).

The interesting thing is that when the crap hits the fan,  your training
kicks in and you are so busy twisting knobs, making radio calls, listening
to the radar and missile guidance signals to tell what mode they are in
....etc, that you really don't have time to get scared.  Its not until you
get back and down that the reaction kicks in.  I guess in my case, at least,
it was the old - it won't be me they get.  I mean how could you really go
back out day after day unless you believed that.

But, after returning from that long 11 hour mission (several air
refuelings), I got debriefed, got a bite to eat and hit the Officers club
bar around 1100PM.  Had a few drinks, went to the bungalo - slept 45
minutes, woke up wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep for 48 hours.  Its
when things get quite that the reflection takes ahold and you relive the
incident - with enough time to get scared.

Actually, I have been more scare flying my rotary powered aircraft - because
in a 12 mile guild for example, you've got plenty of time to think {:>)

Ed