The tip of the vertical stab of the a5ab was horizontal to the fuselage, whereas the the ra 5c had the tip clipped at an angle. Aires 1 72 ra5c vigilante exhaust nozzies late resin. North american ra5c vigilante for fsx fly away simulation. It was designed by douglas on behalf of the united states navy, which sought a carrier capable strategic bomber. Prior to 1962 unification of navy and air force designations, it was designated the a3j vigilante the aircraft briefly replaced the douglas a3 skywarrior as.
This particular ra5c was the last vigilante to land aboard the uss ranger cv61 while assigned to rvah7 in august 1979 during the last vigilante overseas carrier deployment. Originally designed as a bomber, it was later realized that it was much more effective in the role of a high speed reconnaissance aircraft. The ra5c incorporated all the new features of the a5b, such as the humpback fuselage, the big flaps and the leadingedge blc system. The first squadron equipped with the ra 5c was rvah5 which, in june 1964, was operating from the uss ranger, and other vigilante squadrons included rvah1, rvah7, rvah9, and rvah11. Airplane books airplane movies airplane models camaros for. The ra 5c was a photographic reconnaissance adaptation of the vigilante. The vigilante was initially designated as an attack bomber and was later reconfigured as a versatile reconnaissance aircraft with allweather attack capability.
As the ra5c was substantially heavier than the a5a, this meant that once the blc system was engaged the aircraft lost power and tended to drop abruptly. Us navy ra 5c vigilante reconnaissance fighter jet. The ra5c vigilante, was designed by north american to be a nuclear strike aircraft. Aviation retail direct is heathrow airports only professional aviation retail outlet specialising only in aircraft. The douglas a3 skywarrior was a jetpowered strategic bomber developed and produced by the douglas aircraft company. Jan 28, 2019 ten vigilante squadrons were formed during the life of the aircraft. We specialize in military insignia and squadron patches from the navy usn, air force usaf, marine corps usmc, army and coast guard. It covers the technical aspects of these aircraft and squadron histories including squadron patches. The combination of the ra5c vigilantes ability to deliver conventional weapons, day or night in all kinds of weather, as well as to complete tactical reconnaissance missions made it one of the most versatile aircraft in the world. This is an update for fs x acceleration of the ra5c vigilante by massimo altieri. Ra5c vigilante model fly this ra5c vigilante model on your desktop as you remember back. Allplastic model kits got their start in 1936 when frog in england produced the first in a series of kits known as frogpenguins. This plastic model kit is an accurate representation of the military vehicle.
The ra5c is essentially the reconnaissance variant of this aircraft and the bomb bay was replaced with fuel to extend the aircrafts range. Developed from the a5 nuclear bomber and used in a reconnaissance role, the ra 5c vigilante was the largest and fastest aeroplane ever to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. However, when trumpeter released an all new mould in 2004. This is an update for fs x acceleration of the ra 5c vigilante by massimo altieri. The ra5c was a photographic reconnaissance adaptation of the vigilante. There are several 172 scale ra 5c s but none of them are perfect, off the top of my head i know airfix did one, along with hasegawa old 70s mold and of course the newer trumpeter kit. An update for fsx of the ra5c vigilante by massimo altieri. After this batch of 43 was completed, the 43 surviving a5as and a5bs were rebuilt to ra5c standard, and the production line was shut down.
Well after years of begging for a new vigilante kit other than the 1144th i have built four of them and the old revell 172nd kit, we are hit with a bounty of them, one each in 148th and 172nd. Developed from the a5 nuclear bomber and used in a reconnaissance role, the ra5c vigilante was the largest and fastest aeroplane ever to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. One such aircraft was the north american a5 ra 5 vigilante. Home aircraft models attack aircraft models ra5c vigilante model fly this ra5c vigilante model on your desktop as you remember back. It served only a very short time in its primary role as a nuclear bomber aircraft but until 1980 in its second role as a reconnaissance aircraft. The ra5c was developed in parallel with the a5b and first flew on june 30, 1962. Ra5c vigilante aircraft set for uss nimitz 12bx 1700. The north american a5 vigilante is a twinengined twoseat carrierbased supersonic bomber aircraft produced by the usamerican manufacturer north american aviation, operated by the us navy. The tip of the vertical stab of the a5ab was horizontal to the fuselage, whereas the the ra5c had the tip clipped at an angle. While the sleek vigilante is largely forgotten, it was an impressive aircraft, with many similarities to the controversial british bac tsr2 strike aircraft, designed and canceled a few years after the introduction of the vigilante. Boom powell north american a5a ra 5c vigilante by steve ginter back to the misc u.
Trumpeter 172 ra5c vigilante the airfix tribute forum. Book six in the naval fighter series on the douglas a4 skyhawk covers the a4cl in navy service. Trumpeter ra5c vigilante aircraft plastic model airplane. Trumpeter models 172 ra5c vigilante bna model world. The ra 5c was developed in parallel with the a5b and first flew on june 30, 1962. The first ra5c flew on 30 june 1962, being followed by 55 new production aircraft and the conversion to reconnaissance configuration of the 53 a5as. In all, 122 ra 5c vigilantes were built, 79 of which were production aircraft, the remainder were conversions of the earlier aircraft. This is the baddest to the bones jet we had on the ship. North american ra5c vigilante, revell 4378 1989 scalemates.
If you want a 172 scale a5a you will need to modify a ra 5c, theres an old fine scale modeler article that showed how to do it. Revell 172 scale us navy attack bomber ra5c vigilante uss. Douglas a4cl skyhawk in navy service by steve ginter 192pages, 16 in color. Boom powell north american a5ara5c vigilante by steve ginter back to the misc u. Very nicely detailed 148 scale kit that contains both models and display stands as well as collectors patches. Squadron, operational, aircraft, ship, base and unit and squadron patches from ww2, korea, vietnam, desert storm and iraqi freedom are available.
Ra 5c information the ra 5c was a photographic reconnaissance adaptation of the vigilante. During the vietnam war 19551975 it sustained the highest loss ratio of any american aircraft in that conflict. August 2004 home page text aircraft resource center. Ten vigilante squadrons were formed during the life of the aircraft. I still have an old airfix vigilante in my stash, purchased many years ago. It was the largest supersonic carrier aircraft in the navy.
Ra5c vigilante, buno 156608, from reconnaissance attack squadron 7 rvah 7 during what may have been its final flight. The north american a5 vigilante page contains all related products, articles, books, walkarounds and plastic scale modeling projects dedicated to this aircraft. The ra 5c incorporated all the new features of the a5b, such as the humpback fuselage, the big flaps and the leadingedge blc system. This was the birth of the ra5c, the more wellknown version of this aircraft. The ra5c was generally the last aircraft launched from a carrier during an operations cycle, since it was one of the fastest aircraft the navy had. Ra5c vigilante aircraft set for uss nimitz 12pack 1700.
The first squadron equipped with the ra5c was rvah5 which, in june 1964, was operating from the uss ranger, and other vigilante squadrons included rvah1, rvah7, rvah9, and rvah11. The vigilante was heavier than the f4 phantom but used the same engines, so the ra5c had a poorer thrusttoweight ratio than the f. The airfix forum is intended for discussion of plastic scale modelling. The ra 5c vigilante was designed and built by north american aviation as an advanced supersonic attack aircraft. Maquette north american ra5 vigilante toutes les maquettes et les accessoires pour. It served only a very short time in its primary role as a nuclear bomber aircraft but until 1980 in its second role as a reconnaissance aircraft, designated ra5. The bomb was held in a unique bomb bay that ran between the engines. Jlg 2, white 14, hansjoachim marseille, calaismarck airfield, france, battle of britain, september 1940. Patch tuesday is my accumulated collection of various aviation patches ive. Originally revell cut the molds and issued this kit in the 1960s.
Fiftyseven a5a aircraft were eventually produced along with twenty a5b models. Rare and vintage airplane models, rc, ship models and car models. Lot of 2 nice example 63rd armor division patches handmade in germany. It incorporated most of the changes that had been introduced with the a5b, including the humpbacked fuselage with the extra fuel, the larger wing area, the blown flaps on the leading edge, and the four underwing hardpoints. To get the best results we recommend paint, and to build this kit glue is required. Ra5cs served throughout the vietnam war and were retired from service in 1979. It set several world records, including longdistance speed and altitude records. Full text of airfix magazine 1971 10 internet archive. During july 1949, douglas was awarded the contract to produce its design, having bested eight other aircraft. Plane crazy aviation collectibles, military patches and.
Airplane books airplane movies airplane models camaros for sale. Models by revell, aurora, monogram, hasegawa, tamiya, hawk and more. Primarily a place for newcomers to ask questions and seek assistance from likeminded individuals, the airfix forum offers users the chance to join an active and friendly community. Includes a panel that works in fsx plus updated flight dynamics. In all, 122 ra5c vigilantes were built, 79 of which were production aircraft, the remainder were conversions of the earlier aircraft. This trumpeter model kit comes complete with step by step illustrated instructions guiding you through the assembly. Revell usn navy ra5c vigilante airplane model kit 1. In the late 1960s revell popularized 2 scale by releasing a very nice series of wwii aircraft. May 15, 2006 as a boy, i can remember my friend building the airfix vigilante. Until the 1962 unification of navy and air force designations, it was designated the a3j vigilante. It was one of the most graceful looking aircraft i had seen. Revell s 172 line of aircraft was rapidly expanded with great improvements over the earlier s kits.
During the vietnam war it sustained the highest loss ratio of any american aircraft in that conflict. Ra5c vigilante model archives squadron nostalgia llc. I have updated the flight dynamics, added a few gauges to the panel, and changed the afterburner burners. Ra5c information the ra5c was a photographic reconnaissance adaptation of the vigilante. The new blc scheme proved a little tricky, as it required more engine power. North american ra5c vigilante revell 172 ready for. I am not sure if it is its sleek lines or that it was one of the very first models i ever built. After this batch of 43 was completed, the 43 surviving a5as and a5bs were rebuilt to ra 5c standard, and the production line was shut down. Frog had previously made flying models, so this was a reference. The ra 5c vigilante essentially came in two configurations. The vigilante was employed to great effect by the 7th fleet during carrier air wing operations in the vietnam war. I remember always wanting a good 148th scale representation of it.
Livre northamerican ra5c vigilante warpaint series wps97. This volume includes compelling accounts of combat missions over key communist targets, where crews dodged. The ra5c vigilante was designed and built by north american aviation as an advanced supersonic attack aircraft. Each piece is carved from wood, individually made and handpainted to provide a piece youll love. The ra5c proved so useful in vietnam that the navy ordered 46 more ra5cs in 1968. Trumpeter ra5c vigilante aircraft plastic model airplane kit.
The douglas a3 skywarrior was a jetpowered strategic bomber developed and produced by the douglas aircraft company it was designed by douglas on behalf of the united states navy, which sought a carriercapable strategic bomber. The north american a5 vigilante was an american carrierbased supersonic bomber designed and built by north american aviation for the united states navy. It was an off scale and very basic kit but when i was a kid none of that stuff mattered. One such aircraft was the north american a5ra5 vigilante. It incorporated most of the changes that had been introduced with the a5b, including the humpbacked fuselage with the extra fuel, the larger wing area, the blown flaps on the leading edge, and the four underwing hard points. The original amodel was followed by the revised a3j2 which became the a5b after the 1962 restructuring. An update for fsx of the ra 5c vigilante by massimo altieri. It could operate at altitudes from sl to above 50,000 feet. Full text of scale aviation modeller 200501 see other formats.