Return to Main Menu	North American RA-5C, "Vigilante"

Specifications:

• Wing Span 53'.
• Length 73' 2 1/2".
• Ht. 19' 4 3/4".
• Max. Speed Mach 2.1.
• Power - (2) 10,900 Lb. General Electric J79-GE turbo Jets.
• Cruise 1254 mph.
• Range 3,000 miles.
• Service Ceiling 64,000 '.
• Crew - (2)
• Type: Reconnaissance.

In 1955 the US Navy wanted a bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons at mach 2 (Approx 1,476MPH).

The A-5 was the navy's first strategic bomber equivalent to the USAF's contemporary land based aircraft. However, due to the complex bomb launching system which, launched out of tubes at the rear and operational policy changes in the Dep't of Defense the navy designed the second version as a reconnaissance type a/c which first flew in 1962.  This aircraft is the RA-5C Reconnaissance version.