The Airplanes: 1967- 1971
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QT-2, QT-2PC, Q-Star, YO-3A Aircraft
Were
Based on a Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider
QT-2 "Quiet Thruster"
First Flight 8-15-1967
08:00
Protoype
Told by Stan Hall
The YO-3A began at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Sunnyvale, California, in early 1966. Stan Hall, of Glider Fame, works with LMSC engineers, Don Gailbraith, and David Schnebly, to initiate the silent airplane concept.
Told by
David Schnebly
QT-2PC
(PRIZE CREW)
First Flight 12-15-1967
Proof of Concept
Q-Star
First Flight 6-3-1968
Development Platform
YO-3As
Spring 1970
Moffett Field, Ca
Readying for deployment
YO-3A 69-18000
69-18001
69-18002
Fuel Starvation and the crash of 002
Early fuel system starvation issues in the YO-3A aircraft in Vietnam led to multiple in-flight engine stoppages and contributed to the crash of aircraft 002. Captain George Walker, USA (now retired Brigadier General), served as Officer in Charge at LTN from July 1970 to January 1971. Walker's crash in 002 was the second major YO-3A crash that totaled a YO-3A. (The first crash, 18009, was pre-deployment to Vietnam. The cause was weak retraction springs on the spoilers. This plane was also totaled.)
After 002's crash, Walker analyzed flight reports for all YO-3A aircraft, covering 1,500 flight hours. His findings revealed a significant number of in-flight engine stoppages. As a result, he grounded the fleet, prompting Lockheed's Tiger team to deploy and implement major modifications to the fuel system. These upgrades resolved the issue of fuel starvation.
The chief test pilot, QB, submitted a report on the issue in 1972. Walker did not see this report until 2010, when the Quiet Aircraft Association acquired QB’s YO-3A document collection. Both QB’s report and Walker’s rebuttal to that report are provided below.
(Two other YO-3A crashes, involving aircraft 004 and 008, were attributed to pilot error. Details on these incidents can be found in their respective aircraft sections.)
QB's Report
Walker's Response
69-18003
69-18004
69-18005
69-18006
Specialist Will Holly and Ray Martinez, United States Air Force, over Binh Thuy, RVN, March 1971, took this series of photos. These are the best series of photos that we have of YO-3A flying in the daytime. We have no photos of the YO-3A flying at night. The pilot is army warrant officer Richard Osborne. The observer in the front seat is army specialist Chris Mumpower. I attempted to put these photos in sequence. You'll notice the last photo in the series, the YO-3A has its spoilers open and is probably preparing to land.
69-18007
Paul Garin III took these excellent photos of YO-3A 69-18007, 220th RAC, Phu Bai, July 1970.
69-18008
69-18009
69-180010
Captain Sonny Morrow USA (now retired Colonel,) took these in March 1971 when the 3 blade constant speed fixed pitch propellers were installed at Long Than North.
