Years In Service: 1962-1979
Initial Flight: June 30, 1962
The Vigilante is one of the largest aircraft to routinely fly from the U. S. Navy’s aircraft carriers and was the only Mach 2 bomber to serve aboard a Navy carrier. It was designed in the late 1950s as a supersonic nuclear-capable attack bomber. In 1964, all the Vigilantes were reconfigured as reconnaissance aircraft and designated RA-5C. RA-5Cs were used extensively by the US Navy during the Vietnam War. It was this type of aircraft that first discovered the location of the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” POW prison.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 19′ 4″ Wingspan: 53′ Length: 76′ 6″ Crew: 2 Powerplant: General Electric J79-GE-10 turbojets Thrust: 17,859 ft. No. of Engines: 2 Max Speed: 1,320 mph Ceiling: 52,100 ft.