When Design Perfection Meets Operational Nightmare The North American A-5 Vigilante stands as one of the most aesthetically pleasing yet technically complex aircraft ever to operate from an aircraft carrier. Designed in the late 1950s as a supersonic nuclear delivery system, the Vigilante was North American Aviation’s attempt to bring Mach 2 performance to the United States Navy’s heavy attack squadrons. With its high-mounted swept wings and all-moving slab tail surfaces, it looked more like a r

Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Continuing down reconnaissance row, today we are looking at the A-5 Vigilante, specifically the reconnaissance version (RA5C). This aircraft was a private venture by North American Aviation that was intended to replace the A3 but essentially became obsolete as it came off the assembly line when the Navy changed priorities during the Cold War. Only a handful of RA5C planes were used for nuclear strike missions. The aircraft had unique features, including a supersonic