North American RA-5C Vigilante
North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1962 · fighter
The RA-5C Vigilante was a carrier-based supersonic reconnaissance aircraft converted from the A-5 nuclear strike bomber, serving the US Navy from the early 1960s into the 1970s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long slender fuselage with shoulder-mounted swept wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Long slender fuselage with shoulder-mounted swept wings
- Twin J79 turbojets with distinctive long nacelles
- Chin intake and prominent reconnaissance canoe fairing under fuselage
Distinguished by its exceptionally long, slim fuselage, shoulder-mounted thin-section swept wings, twin engine housings flanking the rear fuselage, and the unmistakable ventral reconnaissance canoe.
Specifications
- The North American RA-5C Vigilante has a length of 23.32 m (77 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.15 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2123 km/h (1319 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Originally developed as the A3J Vigilante attack aircraft, the Vigilante entered fleet service in 1961 but its nuclear strike role was quickly superseded. The RA-5C reconnaissance variant, fitted with an extensive sensor suite in a ventral canoe fairing, became the primary fleet reconnaissance asset and saw intensive service during the Vietnam War.
Variants
The A-5A and A-5B were the original attack variants; the RA-5C was the definitive reconnaissance version, with almost all airframes eventually converted or built to this standard.
Where you'll see it
The RA-5C served exclusively with the US Navy aboard carrier air wings, flying high-risk post-strike reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam. The last examples were retired in 1979.
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- North American A-5 Vigilante
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