A-5 Vigilante North American

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.

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Type: Nuclear strike bomber, reconnaissance aircraft
Crew: Two
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Maiden flight: August 31, 1958
Service Delivery: June 1961
Retired from Service: Sept. 1979
Production span: 1956-1963, 1968-1970
Number built: 158


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Specifications: A-5A Vigilante
Powerplant:
Model: General Electric J79-GE-8
Type: Afterburning turbojets
Number: Two
Thrust:
– Dry: 10,000 lb.
– Afterburner: 17,000 lb.
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Dimensions:
Length: 76 ft 6 in (23.32 m)
Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m)
Height: 19 ft 5 in (5.9 m)
Wing area: 754 ft² (70 m²)
Weights:
Empty: 32,700 lb (14,800 kg)
Loaded: 47,530 lb (21,580 kg)
Useful Load: 30,250 lb (13,730 kg)
Max takeoff: 62,950 lb (28,580 kg)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 1,320 mph (2,123 kph)
Range: 1,290 mi (2,075 km)
Service ceiling: 52,100 ft (15,880 m)
Rate of climb: N/A
Wing loading: 80.4 lb/ft² (308.3 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.72

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Armament:
Bombload:
1× B28 or B43 freefall nuclear bomb in internal weapons bay
2× B43, Mark 83, or Mark 84 bombs on two external hardpoints


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Sources:
Wikipedia: A-5 Vigilante