North American A-5 Vigilante

The North American A-5 Vigilante was a powerful, highly advanced carrier-based supersonic bomber designed for the United States Navy. Its service in the nuclear strike role to replace the A-3 Skywarrior was very short. As the RA-5C, it saw extensive service during the Vietnam War in the reconnaissance role. Prior to the unification of the Navy designation sequence with the Air Force sequence in 1962, it was designated the A3J Vigilante.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• North
• American
• A-5
• Vigilante
• United
• States
• Navy
• Vietnam
• War
• carrier-based
• supersonic
• bomber

[StiviGun1]

A fine aircraft built by what it was, in my opinion, the best aircraft manufacturer America ever had. If that company hadn't gone bankrupt, the US would certainly have had much better fighters today. I'm sure the NAA could've built a much better fighter than the F-15. Hell, I think any company could've built a better fighter than the McDonnell Douglas.

[mattmatt115]

@drguffey It was originally designed to deliver a nuclear payload from an aircraft carrier, but yes, it was more useful as a recon plane.

[JetMechMA]

@jamesfgriffin: How in the world did the North shoot down a Mach 2 aircraft in 1967? Did your father survive?...I hope.

[jamesfgriffin]

Vigi is still at NAS Pensacola. I saw it there in 2008. It was moved to the apron out back of the museum, joining about 100 other aircraft there. You can still see it on the museum's trolley tour. Dad flew one until shot diwn over Hsnoi in 67.

[jonesy97]

@datzfast You're talking about her mouth, right?

[StephenB58]

One of these used to be at the Naval Aviation Museum at N.A.S. Pensacola; but I haven't seen it there in years. I guess they moved it somewhere. I know it didn't fly off because I was stationed there at N.A.S in '78 or '79 when they flew it in, took out the engines, and took it over to the museum. It used to be outside the museum.

[drguffey]

The Vigilante was a dedicated Photo Recon jet. The A-7 was an attact plane. With the TARPS pod on F-14's it was hard to justify the expense of the Vigi !!

[streetrace442]

I never understood why the Navy got rid of this aircraft and kept the A-7 instead.

[0289XYZ]

THE most beautiful jet ever built!!!!

[datzfast]

wow a woman moving faster than mac 2 who would have believed it.