This was Leonardo's entry for the US Navy's competition for a new training helicopter. This entry won, and the now designated TH-73A is in production. All USN undergraduate rotary wing training is conducted at NAS Whiting Field, FL., which is approximately 15 miles north east of NAS Pensacola.

31 Dec 1969: TOS USN. May/70: Weapons Systems, NATC, NAS Patuxent River, MD. November/70: Grumman Bethpage for modifications. January/71: VAQ-129, NAS Whidbey Island, WA. 1974: Strike Aircraft Naval Test Center, NAS Patuxent River. September/79: Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. August/80: NARF, NAS Alameda, CA. Ca. October/80: VAQ-129. August/85: Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River. From July/86 to October/96: Rotated among squadrons at Whidbey. November/96: VX-23, NAS Patuxent River. June/98: VX-9, NAS China Lake, CA. By April/02: VX-23. 3 June 2010: Ferried to the National Naval Aviation Museum as the oldest active EA-6B.

The USMC tested 5 YRON-1 a/c. It was not accepted by the Marines as it was too heavy and difficult to fly. In 1977 4013 was on outside display at the museum. It is currently in storage, although occasionally it is put on display for special events.

Beautifully restored SH-2F 151312 on display in Hangar Bay One not long after its return from the Kaman Corporation in 2018. Kaman very graciously overhauled and restored the a/c at their own cost for the museum. It is currently on display in Hangar Bay One.

This H-2 was originally built as a UH-2B, later converted to a UH-2C, and finally converted to a SH-2F. 151312 was then assigned to HSL-31, where it served from 1973 until retirement in 1992. Not long after I took this photo 151312 was transported to the Kaman Corporation for complete restoration, which was finished in 2018. It is now on display inside the Hangar Bay One building.

In 1992 this a/c was transferred to the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, AL. At last report it is still there and in storage.

8/68: TOS USN as A-6A, assigned to Attack Squadron 165 (VA-165) at NAS Whidbey Island, WA. 1969: VA-196, also at Whidbey. 1977: Converted to A-6E. Changed squadrons at Whidbey 5 more times before 1987 (VA-145, VA-196, VA-128, VA-145, VA-196) when it was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons 5 (VX-5) at China Lake for two years before being sent back to VA-196 at Whidbey. While with VA-196 the plane was deployed on the USS Independence for combat in Operation Desert Storm. It was finally acquired by the Naval Aviation Museum in May 1994.

8/68: TOS USN as A-6A, assigned to Attack Squadron 165 (VA-165) at NAS Whidbey Island, WA. 1969: VA-196, also at Whidbey. 1977: Converted to A-6E. Changed squadrons at Whidbey 5 more times before 1987 (VA-145, VA-196, VA-128, VA-145, VA-196) when it was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons 5 (VX-5) at China Lake for two years before being sent back to VA-196 at Whidbey. While with VA-196 the plane was deployed on the USS Independence for combat in Operation Desert Storm. It was finally acquired by the Naval Aviation Museum in May 1994.

This HU-16D was on outside display at the museum from 1977 - 1981. It was recalled by the US Navy, registered as N8523H, and went to the Smithsonian Institute for scientific operations. In 1989 it was bought by Island Flying Boats, Miami, FL. In early 1992 it went to Air Crane, Inc., Opa Locka, FL, and in June 1992 it was exported to Mexico.

This was the last HU-16 on active duty with the USN. It was on display at the museum from 1977 - 1980. The USN then recalled it, registered it with the FAA as N693S, and loaned it to the Smithsonian Institute for scientific duties. Eventually disposed of by the US Navy, it was last reported displayed in a lake at Universal Studios, Orlando, FL.

This C-1A was assigned to the USS Lexington for many years. Retired to the museum in 1976, it still wears US Bicentennial markings. It is currently on display in the museum flightline area.

Photographed from the far side of the tour bus. 26 Nov 1975: TOS USN. 11 Dec 1975: VT-25, NAS Chase Field, TX. 2/77: Naval Air Rework Facility at NAS Pensacola, FL. 1/81: VT-7/TW-1, NAS Meridian, MS. 3/88 to 3/98: TW-1's commander's plane. By 3/99 the plane was stored on the ramp at the National Naval Aviation Museum. In 2015 it was on loan to the Veteran's Memorial Park in Collegedale, TN, where it is mounted on a pole.

30 Jan 1970: TOS USN. 2/70: Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 6 (RVAH-6), NAS Albany, GA. 3/73: RVAH-5, NAS Key West, FL. 10/75: RVAH-9, also at Key West. 8/76: RVAH-12 aboard the USS Forrestal. 1/78: RVAH-6. 11 Oct 1978: SOC and transferred to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola.

This a/c was retired to the museum in 1975. It is currently on display in the outdoor flightline area still in the same markings.

VS-73 was a US Naval Air Reserve squadron based at NAF Detroit, MI. (located at Selfridge AFB). VS-73 was the last operational S-2 squadron, and flew this a/c to the museum in 1975. It is currently on display in the outside flight line and is still in VS-73 markings.

Ca.1971: TOS USN. By 1973: Training Squadron 4 (VT-4), NAS Pensacola, FL. 12/86: VT-7, NAS Meridian, MS. 9/99: Naval Aviation Museum.

Ca.1971: TOS USN. By 1973: Training Squadron 4 (VT-4), NAS Pensacola, FL. 12/86: VT-7, NAS Meridian, MS. 9/99: Naval Aviation Museum.

30 Aug 1968: TOS USN and assigned aboard the USS Coral Sea to South Vietnam for combat. June 1969: VA-164 deployed to Vietnam aboard the USS Hancock. August 1970: VMA-223, NAS Cherry Point, NC. July 1975: VC-7, NAS Miramar to fly as an aggressor aircraft. March 1978: VF-43, NAS Oceana. Ca.1980: Blue Angels, NAS Pensacola, FL. October 1986: Naval Aviation Museum.

On display in the outside aircraft area in 1977. This a/c is now on display inside the main building and has been repainted in VF-33 markings.

Still in the markings of VT-10, its last unit. VT-10 is based at NAS Pensacola. This a/c is now on loan to the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, TX where it is on display.