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UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

1983-Contin ued

1 August A Marine Corps OV-lOA Bronco landed

on Nassau flight deck. This was the first time a Bronco

had ever landed on an LHA. The recovery opened up

the possibility of a future role for the OV-10A in

amphibious operations.

25 August The Navy Department accepted the pro-

duction prototype of the P-3C Orion Update III. The

aircraft was flown to NATC Patuxent River, Md., for

test and evaluation by VX-1. It was expected to be

twice as effective in submarine detection as the

Update II because it would provide increased effec-

tiveness in the acoustic processing system.

29 August The first flight of the A V -8B Harrier II

production model was conducted at the McDonnell

Douglas plant in St. Louis, Mo.

30 August Lieutenant Commander Dale A. Gardner

was a crew member aboard the Space Shuttle

Challenger, becoming the first Naval Flight Officer

(NFO) in space.

1 September The MH-53E Super Stallion production

prototype made its first flight. The MH version of the

CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter was developed to meet

the Navy's needs for airborne mine countermeasures

missions. The MH versions would also augment the

VOD requirements of the Navy.

20 September The first launch of the Navy's AGM-

65F IR Maverick missile took place. It was launched

from an A-7E Corsair II and made a direct hit on a

destroyer target. The AGM-65F was the latest addition

to the Maverick family of air-to-ground missiles and

was designed to enhance the Navy's antiship capabili-

ties.

26 September The first takeoffs of an F/ A-18

Hornet from a ski-jump ramp were conducted at NAS

Patuxent River, Md. The tests were part of an evalua-

tion of conventional jet aircraft using an upward

curved ramp to shorten takeoff roll.

28 September The Seahawks of HSL-41 received

their first production SH-60B. HSL-41 was the Navy's

first LAMPS MK III squadron.

1 October A reorganization of Commander, Naval

Reserve Force (formerly Chief of Naval Reserve)

included a change in which Commander, Naval Air

Reserve Force reported to Commander, Naval Reserve

Force instead of to the Chief of Naval Operations. The

restructuring was designed to improve command and

control of the Naval Reserve Force and enhance com-

bat readiness.

1 October The new Naval Space Command was

established, with former astronaut Captain Richard H.

Truly as its first commander. The new command con-

.

An AV-8B Hanjer II full-scale development model undergoing heavy

load tests prior to the first flight of the production model.