RA5C Vigilante US Navy, 156624, RVAH-6, USS Kitty Hawk,1971

Die-cast metal.
Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.
Pre-painted with pad applied markings.
Fully assembled.
Comes with crew figure
Display stand included.
Option to display model with wheels up or down.
Minimum use of plastic.

The North American A3J Vigilante first flew on August 31, 1958 and was in service until
November 1979. Originally designed as a Mach 2 all-weather bomber; the aircraft eventually had
a new role of high-speed reconnaissance. In 1962 the Vigilante received new designators, the
original A3J-1 became the A-5A, A3J-2 became A-5B while the reconnaissance version A3J-3P
became the RA-5C and first flew June 30, 1962. The Vigilante was the largest and fastest aircraft
to operate from an aircraft carrier. The RA-5C was heavily used in the Vietnam War.


North American RA-5C 156624 was one of the last Vigilantes to be manufactured and was
accepted by the USN in January 1970. The first assignment was with Reconnaissance Attack
Squadron 6 (RVAH-6) “Fleurs” that spent 1970 and 1971 on a cruise aboard USS Kitty Hawk
(CV-63) West Pac Cruise. During 1972-73 the aircraft deployed aboard the USS America
(CVA-66). The RVAH-6 moved to Florida and spent time aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in
1974. The next three years saw the aircraft move to RVAH-5 “Savage Sons”, RVAH-9
“Hoot Owls”, RVAH-12 “Speartips” and time on the USS Constellation (CVA-64) and
USS Independence (CV-62) before returning to RVAH-6. RA-5C 156624 made its final flight in
mid-1978 and is displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Florida
wearing AJ-601 from its last cruise aboard the USS Nimitz.

Specifications for the North American RA-5C Vigilante
Crew – 2 / tandem twin cockpits x Pilot in front cockpit, Reconnaissance Attack Navigator in the
rear
Number of Aircraft – 91 new built, converted aircraft 43 A-5A and the first 6 A-5B = 140

Dimensions
Length – 76 ft 7 in (23.3 m)
Wingspan – 53 ft 2in (16.2 m)
Height – 19 ft 5 in (5.9 m)

Weight
Empty – 37,500 lb (17,000 kg)
Maximum – 79,600 lb (36,100 kg)

Performance
Engines – 2 x General Electric J79-GE-10 turbojets with each engine producing 17,859 lbs of
thrust.
Speed
Maximum – 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h)
Service Ceiling – 52,100 ft (15,900 m)
Range – 2,050 miles (3,300 km)

Avionics
AN/ASB-12 Bombing & Navigation Radar
Westinghouse AN/APD-7 SLAR
Sanders AN/ALQ-100 E/F/G/H-Band Radar Jammer
Sanders AN/ALQ-41 X-Band Radar Jammer
AIL AN/ALQ-61 Radio/Radar/IR ECM Receiver
Litton ALR-45 "COMPASS TIE" 2-18 GHz Radar Warning Receiver
Magnavox AN/APR-27 SAM Radar Warning Receiver
Itek AN/APR-25 S/X/C-Band Radar Detection and Homing Set
Motorola AN/APR-18 Electronic Reconnaissance System
AN/AAS-21 IR Reconnaissance Camera