North American RA-5C Vigilante
Quick Facts
Quick Facts
The A3J Vigilante (redesignated A-5 in 1962), a carrier-based bomber designed to deliver a nuclear weapon and travel at twice the speed of sound.
Two years after Vigilantes were fielded, however, submarines began assuming the strategic nuclear attack mission.
As a result, Vigilantes in the fleet and in production were converted to reconnaissance aircraft.
The aircraft’s grateful lines and, along with its amazing speed and huge size make the Vigilante one of the most unique aircraft in Naval Aviation history. The last RA-5C flight was in November 1979.
