Boneyard Safari
Preserving Aviation HIstory

Any landing you can walk away from… A3D-2 from VAH-9 after its nose wheel collapsed during recovery aboard the carrier USS Saratoga CVA-60 in 1959. Note the open canopy as a high altitude strategic bomber the A3D was not equipped with ejection seats and the crew was expected to jump out with parachutes in case of an emergency. #a3d #usssaratoga #cv60 #boneyardsafari #aviationsafari

Check out USS Saratoga CVA-60 just after commissioning in 1956, notice anything strange on #2 catapult? #usssaratoga #cv60 #boneyardsafari #navalsafari

Here is a closer look at the first generation of jet blast deflector (JBD) aboard USS Saratoga CVA-60 in the 1950’s. #usssaratoga #cv60 #boneyardsafari #navalsafari #aviationsafari

Here is USS Saratoga CVA-60 in 1956, she originally had 6 arresting lines. Also the port elevator is lowered and gives a good example of how it disrupted flight operations if it was used. #usssaratoga #cv60 #boneyardsafari #aviationsafari

Here is USS Saratoga CV-60 underway in the Med in April 1984. She had just come out of SLEP and CIWS installed along with a lot of other upgrades. #usssaratoga #cv60 #boneyardsafari #navalsafari #aviationsafari

Here is USS Saratoga CV-60 underway in Nov. 1985, check out those alert birds ready to launch. #usssaratoga #cv60 #boneyardsafari #navalsafari #aviationsafari

Check out USS Saratoga CV-3 in 1929, the elevator next to the island was the shape of a T. The poor layout made launching a full airwing strike difficult, as the first group of planes would often waste excessive fuel circling while waiting for the remaining aircraft to be cycled up from the hangar. #usssaratoga #cv3 #boneyardsafari #navalsafari #aviationsafari

Per request, here is USS Saratoga CV-3 inn Puget Sound, 15 May 1945. After having been repaired from a Kamikaze attack in Feb. of 1945. #usssaratoga #cv3 #boneyardsafari #aviationsafari

Here is USS Saratoga CV-3 in Puget Sound in May of 1942. #usssaratoga #cv3 #wwii #boneyardsafari #aviationsafari

Here is USS Saratoga CV-3 late WWII with an expanded forward flight deck, and lowered stack. Remarkably she survived numerous attacks and made it to the end of the war. #usssaratoga #cv3 #wwii #boneyardsafari #aviationsafari