I had the privilege, starting in late February 1968 --during the Tet Offensive-- of working on the QT2PC while I was stationed with the 3 combined U.S. Army Signal Detachments at Soc Trang Army Airfield (STAA)in the "IV" Corps deep in the Mekong Delta, working with Lockheed reps Dale Stith and the late Wilbur Curtis (Dale and I attended his funeral in Palo Alto several years ago) as well as the multi-force flight and ground crew which was designated 'Operation Prize Crew,' an apt description of the mission, its equipment and its people.
Perhaps because of the passage of 42 years, the 'hangarage' of the 2 craft was mis-located: they were both kept in the 121st Assault Helicopter Company's hangar, NOT the 336th's hangar, under tarps during the day to keep the curious eyes of the local/native daytime workforce from SEEING what we were hiding. Enough people in town (Soc Trang is the capital of Ba Xuyen Province)had heard about or even seen a silent --actually, VERY QUIET, since even the rush of air over a glider's wings causes wind-noise-- fly overhead, most easily seen if the craft flew between a bright moon and observers on the ground...otherwise, virtually silent at +/- feet overhead. That might also be the genesis of its nickname: "Bat Plane." The fact that there were TWO of them must have been a real conundrum for those on the ground who really weren't sure what they had seen, or THOUGHT they saw.
Being a glider when it was built, and despite the addition of the motor, prop, and many modifications, the original 2" wooden wheels, one on each wingtip were left as-is, necessitated ground crewmen to hold the craft level, once it had been pushed out to the appropriate end of the east-west runway and the pilot and observer had entered and latched down the cockpit. After the motor had run up to takeoff speed and tower clearance had been granted, the 'lucky 2' ground crew would attempt to maintain the craft level as it began its takeoff roll, running alongside, wingtip in hand, until the QT2 was going faster than we could run (I had the 'honor' a few times)and able to keep itself more or less wing-off-ground until they were airborne. Repeat above operation in reverse upon landing.
All in all, this was an example of how a private company, Lockheed, can team up with the Government DARPA, DoD, the CNO, et al.)and cut through red tape, while letting loose the combined talents and imagination to "adapt, improvise and overcome" in producing a use-specific aircraft from an aircraft never designed to do what it wound up doing, and starting the process that has grown into myriad and diverse systems of weapons and technology.
www.prizecrew.org -and- www.quietaircraft.org sites have many pictures, bios, timelines and legend-and-lore straight from the horse's... mouth!

The 2-32 that was a converted back from a Lochkeed QT-2 mentioned above by Pat Doyle recently survived a midair collision. The Pawnee towing it was struck midair by a Cirrus SR20 on 2/6/2010. Unfortunately the occupants of both those aircraft died. The 3 aboard the 2-32 survived unharmed as did the glider. I have lots of time in that glider and was one of many that participated in its restoration. Ken Long

I was stationed at Soc Trang Army Airfield from December, 1967 to March,1968 with the 212th MP Co Sentry Dog unit. Our headquarters was located right off of the end of the runway. I remember one night being in a bunker next to our kennel, which was a very noisy spot when conventional aircraft were taking off, and catching a fleeting glance at a strange, nearly silent aircraft just leaving the runway. We didn't know what it was exactly, but assumed it was some type of new, hi tech surveillance aircraft. Pretty impressive, in retrospect. Nice website!

In the early '70's the FBI obtained one of these aircraft from the Fish & Game in Louisiana(I believe). They flew it over Wounded Knee as recon platform and other survielance missions The pilot was Agent Vance Duffy. I flew as an observer in the same plane in 1973 or 1974 over the Los Angeles Basin to evaluate the night vision capability in an urban setting. We flew out of Los Alamitos.

Two of these planes were flown out of Soc Trang Army Airfield, Soc Trang, Vietnam from late 1968 into 1969. They shared a hanger with the 336th Assault Helicopter Company. While they were there the bay that they occupied was curtained off with heavy canvas and the planes were covered. They flew only at night. And yes, they were very quiet.

What makes the prop on the YO3 so quiet? It the engine mod itself or the prop?

SWEET WINGS

One of these aircraft was converted back to a SGS 2-32 by Bruce Miller owner of The Cloud Base. He has passed on and the glider operation is now called Mile High Gliding in Boulder CO. The glider flys every day.

I just did some Internet searching and I found the web site http://www.yo-3a.com/home.html On it there is a pic of many involved w/YO3-A's including the guy I knew. Richard (Dick) Osbourne. Anyone know him tell him I said "Hello"

In the early 80's I worked as a technician at Flushing Arpt. in N.Y.C. for a company that flew SNJ-2's. We had a pilot that flew part time with us who owned and had there at Flushing arpt. a YO-3A. He told us it was the exact A/C that he flew in Vietnam. He even had mission footage taken in flight. I can not remember his name. I wonder if anyone knows what happen to him or the aircraft. At that time it was not flyable but he was restoring it in his spare time/money. it wasn't in bad condition, just had pieces removed and out for work. It was all in light gray primer. If this rings any bells for anyone I would love to hear about it.

Hi Guys,
I was stationed at Long Thanh North in 1971, and flew the U-21 for 1st Signal Brigade. There was a Yo-Yo unit there for a while. If not seen, the aircraft was undetectable in the air. It could fly over at 100' unnoticed. Amazing aircraft.

i am doing a report on this aor craft and am using this site i need the name of the auther please

I learned yesterday (2/9/09) about the death of Richard Vernon. Dick and I participated in the development of the NVAP and IRI that were used on the YO3A. Dick's brother Bob thought thought there might be interest in my account of those days. I live in Carrollton, TX now.

theres a YO-3 sitting up hear the the Burlington WA regional airport. Its not in very good shape an is litterly rotting. I dont know any info on the aircraft but im sure someone could find out

MY CORRECTIONS/ADDITIONS (Please correct the original text:

Faced with the military requirement for a quiet observation aircraft, Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) developed the "Q" Series Aircraft: QT-1 (conceived, but not constructed), QT-2 (N2471W and N2472W) later modified to QT-2PC configuration (#1 and #2), and Q-Star. Note: "QT: for Quiet Thruster.

The QT-2 first flew in August 1967. Both were later converted to military aircraft for the Prize Crew OpEval in Southeast Asia. Arriving in South Vietnam just before the 1968 TET Offensive, they accumulated approximately 600 hours flying exclusively tactical night missions during the first three-month deployment. They continued to operate in Vietnam during most of 1968 (Prize CrewII) and were then transferred to the Navy (NTPS Pax. R.) as X-26Bs in 1969. The QT-2PCs were the first military aircraft to use "Starlight Scopes”.
The #1 ship is now at USAAM at Ft. Rucker, AL. The #2 ship was retro-verted to SGS 2-32 configuration and is operated by Mile High Gliders in CO.

The Q-Star Aircraft was LMSC's "House Aircraft" for evaluating "quiet recon" concepts. Eighteen propeller/reduction systems and other items were evaluated. It flew early versions "Black Crow" Sensors and was the first aircraft to use a rotary combustion chamber (Wankel) engine for primary power. It is now being rebuilt to fly again.

Potential of the aircraft was such that Lockheed produced a refined version for the US Army: The YO-3A. Also based on the Schweizer SGS 2-32 Sail-Plane, but with wings mounted low on the fuselage, retractable landing gear, upgraded (SLAE) avionics, State-Of-The-Art Sensor (NVAP with LTD) and the Tactical Observer seated forward for better visibility. An IO-360D Continental Engine provided propulsion power. The YO-3A was deployed in Southeast Asia from mid-1969 to late-1971.
It was the first military aircraft to employ an integrated NOD Sensor with a YAG Laser. It also had an Infrared Illuminator for other tactical sensors (INFANT LLTV, NODs, etc).
It was later operated by the LDWF and FBI. NASA yet operates the former 69-18010 as NASA 818 (or similar).

Dale Ross Stith
Founder & President of Quiet Aircraft Assn, Inc (NPO)
Member: LMSC R&D Team and Field Engineer (Prize Crew and YO-3A)

PS:
Images (and more)of all LMSC Quiet Aircraft available on our websites: quietaircraft.org, prizecrew.org, and YO-3A.com.
No evidence of carbon monoxide or "radar-absorbing-paint (aka RAM). One 762 round into a QT-2PC in '68, but no Quiet Aircraft lost the lost to the enemy. The first aircraft to survive in a hostile environment by means of "low-observables (aka STEALTH)"

I was one of the Technical observers on board this aircraft. I have flown over 100 missions in combat and have over 975 hours in said aircraft.
On one paricular mission, my pilot and I flew over what we guess at to be a regiment of NVA at 50-100 feet. We were watching alot of camp fires going out. (this might have been cause by the prop wash) Saw people rounding to take cover fear of being bomb or strafe. We were however, trying to contact many of our assocates to take care of the problem. Last known , we had contact a 175mm battery and had adjusted fire from last known splash and readjusted by telling the battery to drop 1000 meters and right adjustment of 450 mters and fire for effect. Then we proceeded back to base for fuel. Left the scene with another yo-3a (Nightrider 12) to finish the task.

can you tell me how many Yo-3's survived the Vietnam war? Are any still flying as of 2008?

I was a pilot on the YO-3A in RVN in 1971 till the end of the program. I was based out of LTN. This aircraft was so far advanced in night reconnaissance that it was sometimes difficult to convince the folks we were working with we were real because they couldn't believe that anyone could find as many valid targets as we were finding. We simply overwhelmed their organizations with so many valid targets they could not react to them all.

I was crew chief on Army-Lockheed YO-3A 69-18007 RVN 1970-71. 9 of these aircraft operated in Vietnam and they never took a round or were shot down. We did lose 3 to 1. Mechanical failure, 2. ran out of gas during a storm 3. Lost two pilots , possibly to Carbon Monoxide? Very successful aircraft. After Vietnam 2 of the planes were used for several years by the FBI--most notably in the Patty Hearst Case and the other kidnapping and extortion cases. Check out the website at www.yo-3a.com www.prizecrew.org www.quietaircrft.org This plane was silent at 1000 feet. It had 2nd generation Night Vision (NVAP) Infrared Illuminator and Laser target designator--and this was 1969-71. In addition the YO-3A had radar absorbing paint. When the transponder was turned off, the plane disappeared from radar. More information at www.yo-3a.com Kurt Olney