QAA is back in business. Chris Mumpower is our new President (until our next reunion.) More infor coming.
Photo provided by Ray Martinez, Binh Thuy, 1971
2015 has been a landmark year for the Quiet Aircraft Association and the YO-3A. The acquistion of the NASA YO-3A by the Vietnam Helicopters Museum, Concord California has given us a FLYING YO-3A. Big thanks to Mike Haus, Chris Miller (VHM,) Bruce Elliot and the Seattle Museum of Flight for all the spare parts; Richard Osborne, chief pilot on the YO-3A for VHM, Andy Anderson for developing the YO-3A parts department and the support from our NASA friends. 2017--we are going to get a chance to show the public what this airplane does not sound like! ---Kurt Olney, Webmaster
Thank you Steve "Andy" Anderson for spending one weekwith the Vietnam Helicopters Museum in Concord CA and organizing the YO-3A parts department. We have a lot of parts and Andy has us moving in the right direction with the inventory. And while there, we were able to tell some good stories about the YO-3A to VHM members.
Some of YOs with the YO3A
Vietnam Helicopters Museum, Concord CA is now in possession of the NASA YO-3A. Dick Osborne and Kurt Olney flew the YO-3A from NASA Edwards-Armstrong, to its new home with the VHM in Concord. SEE THE FILM HERE!
Ernie Wells was Military Intelligence while the YO-3As were in Vietnam. Ernie has recently checked in and is giving us great intel stories aboout the YO-3A airplanes operating out of CanTho-Binh Thuy. Welcome home Ernie and we are looking forward to your contributions to our book on the YO-3A airplanes!!
We need a volunteer to help organize our reunion photos that cover the time span 2004 to present.
2013 QAA YO-3A Reunion
Dedication of YO-3A 69-18005
Seattle Museum of Flight
September 7, 2013
The Quiet Aircraft Association is working on the books on the QT-2PC and the YO-3A. Dale Ross Stith is working on the QT-2PC prototype to the YO-3A and Kurt Olney is working on the YO-3A book. We are getting very close to a well written-laid out first draft. --webmaster
YO-3A Facts
The YO-3A is a low altitude SILENT STEALTH night reconnaissance airplane that was developed for the U.S. Army for use in the Vietnam War, 1970-71. The YO-3A mission was to locate and direct destruction on enemy night operations. The YO-3A was not armed. It's only protection was its silence. The YO-3A was equipped with following mission equipment:
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company built 11 YO-3As in 1969. 9 of these YO-3As saw service in Vietnam. No YO-3A was ever shot down or took a round 14 months of operation in Vietnam 1970-71.
After Vietnam, 2 YO-3As saw service with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and later with the FBI.
Nasa acquired a YO-3A in the mid 70's and converted it to a flying microphone. The NASA YO-3A is still flying today.
Night Stalkers by Roger WarnerU.S. soldiers in Vietnam heard rumors of ghosts; the Viet Cong chalked it up to bad luck. In reality, the startling pinpoint attacks depended on secret, silent spyplanes.
In 1966, the U.S. Navy sent a young lieutenant named Leslie J. Horn to South Vietnam to evaluate the use of night-vision devices in combat. Horn, a pilot and physicist, soon found himself in a patrol boat looking for Viet Cong in the canals and waterways of the Mekong Delta in the southern end of the country. With his Starlight scope, a handheld light amplifying device, he could see in the dark, but not through the thick foliage that lined the waterways.
We have extensive connections with Pilots, Observers, Mechanics, Crew Chiefs, Lockheed Engineers involved with the YO-3A, QT-2PC, Q-Star.
If you are looking for someone involved with the YO-3A please contact Kurt Olney at k.olney2@cox.net
Silent Sam for Uncle Same
Victor Appleton, 1919, writes a book about Tom Swift developing a silent airplane and then selling it to Uncle Sam for one dollar. Must read--here it is:
