VX-30
| Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 | |
|---|---|
 VX-30 Insignia | |
| Active | May 1995 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch |
 United States Navy |
| Type | Test & Evaluation |
| Role | RDT&E, Surveillance |
| Part of | Naval Air Systems Command |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Point Mugu |
| Nickname | "Bloodhounds" |
| Motto | "Relentless Pursuit of Excellence" |
| Colors | Yellow, Black |
| Decorations | Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award(2010) |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | CDR James Borghardt |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
F-4 Phantom(retired) F-14 Tomcat(retired) F/A-18 Hornet(retired) |
| Reconnaissance | S-3 Viking, P-3 Orion |
| Transport | C-130 |
VX-30 Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (AIRTEVRON THREE ZERO, nickname The Bloodhounds) is a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California. Using the tail code BH, they are the only squadron currently supporting the S-3B Viking platform, as well as flying Lockheed P-3 Orion and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, in support of the United States Navy's Sea Test Range, off the shores of central California.
History
Aircraft Flown
Current aircraft
VX-30 is one of the most diverse squadrons in the Navy today, as its flight line encompasses three different Naval Aviation platforms. Each one of these platforms is used in various Research Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) of current and future weapons systems, which are being tested at Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division both at Point Mugu and China Lake.
C-130 / KC-130 Hercules
VX-30 uses the C-130 and KC-130 extensively as an aerial refueling platform for units that are conducting tests on the Sea Test Range, as well as for surveillance and clearance on during hazardous operations that are being conducted on the range as well. To this date, the squadron flies the oldest C-130s in active military history, dating back to 1957.
P-3 Orion
The squadron's most used aircraft is the P-3 Orion. These aircraft are used in conjunction with the testing on the Sea Test Range for surveillance and clearance, as well as providing telemetry data during missile testing. VX-30 also flies two of the fleet's only "Billboard" NP-3D, a P-3A that has been upgraded with a large billboard-esqe radar, that can provide over-the-horizon radar capabilities. The NP-3D aircraft were also used to support five NASA Space Shuttle missions using the Cast Glance optical system to monitor re-entry.
S-3 Viking
The newest acquisition on the flight line are the S-3 Viking. First appearing in late-2009, they are used for their surveillance capabilities on the Sea Test Range. Because of their agility and speed, they are able to much more quickly identify and locate various vessels which may impact the operations being conducted. In November 2010, VX-30 helped to celebrate the Centennial of Naval Aviation by sporting an S-3 with a paint scheme that dates back to aircraft that were flying during the Battle of Midway.[1][2]
Gallery
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S-3B Viking
-
NP-3D Orion
-
This DC-130A was retired in 2007
-
An QF-4S in flight, 2004
-
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Photo of S-3B with 1940's paint scheme
References
- ↑ "Painted warbirds will celebrate 100 years of naval aviation". Florida Times-Picayune.
- ↑ "S-3B Viking gets war paint for Naval Aviation Centennial". Fleet Readiness Center Southeast.
External links
- VX-30 official website
- In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence: VX-30 Bloodhounds - Naval Aviation News - (September–October 2004)
