North American A-5 Vigilante
The A-5 was a very advanced supersonic attack aircraft, optimized for
low-level attacks at high speed. It was long and angular, with rectangular air
intakes, small, thin swept wings incorporating large full-span flaps, and
all-moving tail surfaces. But the A-5, one of the biggest aircraft ever operated
from a carrier, was not successful in its intended role as nuclear bomber, It
has been claimed that the bomb ejection mechanism was unsatisfactory. The bomb
bay was between the engines, and the plan was to expell the bomb rearwards,
together with two empty fuel tanks. 63 bombers were built, but all but ten were
converted to RA-5C reconnaissance aircraft. There were also 55 new RA-5Cs built.
These were very effective and served until 1980.
Type: RA-5C
Function: reconnaissance
Year: 1964
Crew: 2
Engines: 2 * 79.4 kN G.E. J79-GE-10
Wing Span: 16.15 m
Length: 23.32 m
Height: 5.91 m
Wing Area: 70.05 m2
Empty Weight: 17009 kg
Max.Weight: 29937 kg
Speed: Mach 2.1
Ceiling: 14750 m
Range: 4820 km
Armament: 1 nuclear weapon, and conventional weapons on two hard points.
History
Designed to meet a US Navy requirement for a high-performance all-weather attack
aircraft, the North American NA-247, known at first as the NAG-PAW (North
American General Purpose Attack Weapon), won an order for two YA3J-1 prototyes
on 29 June 1956. The name Vigilante was allocated soon after this, and teh A3J
designation was changed subsequently to A-5. The design's cantilever monoplane
swept wing incorporated no ailerons, roll control being by the use of spoilers
in conjunction with differential use of an all moving tailplane on each side of
the fuselage and, when it entered service, the Vigilante was the first US
production aircraft to introduce variable geometry intakes for its two General
Electric J79 engines. The first of the prototypes, then powered by two YJ79-GE-2
engines each developing 6804-kg (15,000lbs) afterburning thrust, was fown for
the first time on 31 August 1958, and carrier trials were completed abourd the
USS Saratoga in July 1960. Initial productino version A-5A, US Navy Squadron
VAH-7 becoming the first operational unit in June 1961. The primary weapon of
the A-5A was a free-fall nuclear bomb ejected rearwards from a bomb bay between
the tailpipes of he two turbojet engines. A-5A prduction totalled 57 aircraft.
This version was followed by an interim long-range bomber version designated
A-5B, incorporating greater fuel capacity and aerodynamic improvements, but,
because of changes in the US Navy policy only six were built and then converted
to serve as a long-ranged unarmed reconaissance verson designated RA-5C,
equipped with side-looking airborne radar, cameras and electronic
counter-measures equipment. The first RA-5C flew on 30 June 1962, being followed
by 55 new production aircraft and the conversion to reconnaissance configuration
of the 53 A-5As. The first squadron equipped with the RA-5C was RVAH-5 which, in
June 1964, was operating fromt he USS Ranger, and other Vigilante squadrons
included RVAH-1, RVAH-7, RVAH-9, and RVAH-11.
Specifications
RA-5C Vigilante
Type: carrier-based long-range reconnaissance aircraft
Powerplant: 2 8101-kg(17,860lb) afterburning thrust General Electric J79-GE-10
turboets
Performance:
max speed-Mach 2.1
operational ceiling-14,750 m (48,400 ft)
range-4828 km (3,000 miles)
Weights:
empty-17009 kg (37498 lbs)
max take-off weight-29937 kg (66,000 lbs)
Dimensions:
span-16.15m (53ft)
length-23.32m (76.5ft)
height-5.91m (19 feet 4.75 inches)
wing area-70.05m^2 (754 sq ft)
