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"The Last Aircraft"
This EP-3E ARIES Il aircraft (BUNO 156519, SEQ 174) was the last of four P. 3C aircraft modified by NADEP Alameda to the EP-3E configuration after the original Navy contract with industry was terminated. This modification was the largest of its kind accomplished by a Navy Depot.
Each aircraft required in excess of 100.000 man-hours for the installation of 256 structural kits, each comprised of 81,115 parts, 224 electrical kits that included 2,061 cables that required 13,821 electrical terminations, plus installation of 458 electronic/electrical components and 58 new antennas. If the technical complexity was not enough, there were other obstacles; lack of adequate technical data, major material shortages and an aggressive delivery schedule born out of a requirement to complete the aircraft
prior to the NADEP operational closure of 31 March '96 and an urgent Fleet operational need for the EP-3E ARIES I aircraft. Previous NADEP deliveries were of such high quality that they were utilized to build the ARIES I performance baseline. As a result of base closure, the EP-3E ARIES I Program became the last major aviation workload at NADEP Alameda, with SEQ 174 becoming the critical path to operational closure. The SEQ174 structural team began each morning by singing the Star Spangled Banner, and soon the entire hangar workforce joined their morning ritual; their part of the mod program finished on schedule and significantly under cost. Next, the electrical crew began their cable installations, but due to a shortage of specific trades, artisans were brought in from NADEPs Jacksonville and North
Island, SMALC McClellan, LSI Corporation and Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems, Inc. to join the NADEP Alameda artisans in their race against the base closure clock. In keeping with the NADEP Alameda theme of closure with STYLE, GRACE and DIGNITY, this aircraft completed 23 days ahead of schedule and was delivered on 5 March 1996.
