A3J Vigilante Operations, USS Enterprise

The A3J Vigilante was one of the largest aircraft ever operated from the deck of an aircraft carrier, as shown in this footage taken on the USS Enterprise. This footage can be found on the rocket.aero DVD "Vigilante: A3J and RA-5C." For more information, visit www.rocket.aero

[@KB4QAA]

"When giants roamed the flight decks".

[@edwardweeden8837]

I always used to LMAO when I heard youngsters in V-1 and V-3 Divisions talk about how BIG the Tomcat was! My answer always was "Seen the Viggie?" They gave me a blank look and asked "What the heck is a Viggie?" I just walked off shakin' my head!!!

[@lagriffe_behourd]

With the French Mirage IV, the Vigilante is one of the two most magnificent supersonics of the 70s. Elegant, racy, power release ... yet a splendid design by North American Aviation.

[@IrishManJT]

Wow! The Big E had Phantoms, Skyhawks, Crusaders, and Vigilantes all operating at the same time. Fantastic.

[@johnk1955]

Don't forget the A-1 Skyraider. There's one sitting aft of the island at 7:51.

[@foxtrot312]

...oh my

[@georgezhu1135]

Now it’s all boring hornets

[@briancooper2112]

A-6?

[@jonathanpatten3173]

This is the second enterprise the nuclear carrier

[@Eyes-of-Horus]

In 1962 I was on a tanker in the Cuban blockade. I recall giving "token" fuel to the "Big E." At the same time they were taking Vigilante's off the flight deck. (BTW I was running the JP5 rig.) It was quite a sight to see being beside the Enterprise; an immensely impressive ship. When we took our lines back the "Big E" churned up the waters with its 4 huge screws and was out of sight in about 15 minutes.

[@barrybuchert1345]

What were you a purple shirt? A friend of mine was a red shirt. I wouldn't want either one of your jobs when I was on during the mid 70's.

[@Eyes-of-Horus]

@@barrybuchert1345 We never dressed up except in our working blues. It was the guys on the carrier that had colored shirt. That PoS I was on should never have been there in the first place and should never have been brought back into service. The idiot captain was trying to make a useless old junk pile a fleet oiler. He volunteered that PoS to go to the Blockade when a real fleet oiler was scheduled to go. It was built in 1931 as a civilian tanker brought into service for WWII. Decomissioned (and should have been sold to Gilette) after that. But was brought back out for Korea and decomissioned after that. And finally brought out again for no logical purpose whatsoever in 1961. That's when I picked it up. The thing was a joke. I couldn't wait until I mustered off. A disgusting experience.

[@malkisreccer4696]

@@Eyes-of-Horus can i ask,

[@malkisreccer4696]

What is the biggest navy bomber? I would make an rc ver of it

[@victorthorn1591]

I remember seeing an RA-5C Vigilante launched from the waist cat of the USS Independence (CV-62) during the mid-1970's. I was standing in the open port hanger bay door and we had just raised the anchor, so we weren't moving real fast. The Vigi was the last of an alert 25 launch to impress the Soviets, who were anchored around us off the coast of Greece. Before he started climbing, I swear it looked almost like I was looking down on him with the exhausts kicking up ocean water! That goes on record as the most impressive (and potentially dumbest) takeoff I've ever seen! As I understand it, the Heavy squadron's CO was the one flying the aircraft. While other aircraft were "flanchored," that was the slowest ship speed I ever saw a Vigi launched!

[@marcuskervy6507]

I was on the big E with VA-196 from Sep 72 - Apr 73. I flew the A6 intruder. I participated in many alpha strikes over North Vietnam. I also flew the KA6D the tanker version of the Intruder where I refueled other Navy planes including the RA5C.

[@thefrecklepuny]

The Vigilante makes the Phantom look small!

[@davidnicholson4279]

thefrecklepuny hy

[@delten-eleven1910]

thefrecklepuny: Not only the phantom, makes the A-4 skyhawk look like a cessna skyhawk.

[@bobthompson4319]

Thats what I thought lol. I came to this vid just to see the size because its one of the biggest that the navy has flown

[@ashokiimc]

@@bobthompson4319 the biggest. not including the C-130

[@frederickwise5238]

For all you guys who 'knew' the A3/A5 I worked on airframes 58-62 at Columbus Oh. We did checkout of all the cabling once they arrived in our Dept. Installed all the "boxes'" and made sure they did what they were supposed to. Then worked out any kinks as the test pilot 'squawked' problems he found. Ive seen one come back from a test - after it had been painted Navy colors - with the paint burned on the surfaces, they were that fast. Does anyone know if they ever solved the problem of the failure to roll out after that one bomb maneuver (I forget the name). We checked every which way and found no 'electrical' prob. After I got into the Minuteman I ICBM and trained on the D17B computer, I always suspected it was a computer program failure probably caused by the shaking of takeoffs and landings. The Vig used the same D17B just in a different packaging. I still think of it very fondly as the A3J.

[@steveboros1961]

T25S40 Absolutely RIGHT! I grew up in Lincoln Village and they buzzed us all the time! Made frequent trips out to Lockbourne afb .My cousin worked on Vigilantes@ NA Rockwell.

[@buzzardbait4]

The most beautiful aircraft, imho.

[@francisshaw7020]

I spent my Navy career with the RA5C program in the 70's. First cruise with RVAH-11 out of Albany, GA. and my last cruise with RVAH-7 out of Key West. Great aircraft!

[@reynoldreeder5242]

I worked at North American Columbus in the 60"s as a Mfg Analyst and it was always a thrill to walk down the mezzanine in the high bay area in the final assembly section and look down at the 3-4 A3J's at various stages of completion! I was there as the mission and the designation changed to RA5C. There were so many engineering changes on each one (that gave me job security)!! I lived in an apartment off the end of the runway on 5th street so even at home I could see the crazy Navy Test pilots land and take off , on occasion the sonic booms and the near vertical take offs were awesome!! The sound when they landed was an erry whine and you couldnt mistake that it was a VIGILANTE ,,Thanks for this video!! still awe struck at 80!! Rey

[@jamesholcombe435]

Rvah 3 was a training squadron, carrier qualifications for the pilots and crews. Launches and traps, I think it is 5 for both. My dad was a green shirt, meant different back then. He was a mechanic, still has his shirt and green deck hat for his mouse ears and goggles

[@kregeason5437]

My Dad was an AO 2 a Red Shirt at this time on the Enterprise . 1960 - 63 .

[@georgedurzo3775]

I served with VAH 7 out of Sanford, went to med, cuba crisis and small cruises. I was a AQ2. Quite an adventure

[@supahglyderyder3405]

Served onboard the Big E from 72 to 76. During Nam night ops, the Vigi would open full throttle (?) just before the cat launch and concentric rings of fire emanated from her dual thrusters. The visual, the noise, the THUD when she cleared the deck, I'll never forget it!!

[@dalecremisio3513]

I'm

[@haroldbryant3208]

SupahGlyde Ryder

[@edwardweeden8837]

Poetry (AND POWER) in motion Supahglyde!!!!!

[@steenl.srensen-mlgaard2856]

In the early 70'es a Vigilante made a supersonic boom over the city of Aalborg after simulated attack on AB Aalborg. I was fortunate - and quick - enough to see it's afterburners as it sped away to it's home carrier somewhere in the North Sea! The glaziers in Aalborg were very happy the following day!

[@MeBallerman]

@Steen Hehe jeg er en gammel Aalborg-dreng, som du. Jeg kender historien der, det blev forbudt at overflyve land med overlydshastighed der efter. Jeg har temmelig sikkert hørt Vigilante braget der, men ka Fanme ikke huske det, jeg har været 6-8 år eller sån, ak. Jeg er født i `66, så jeg BURDE have hørt braget, men måske var vi udenbys den dag. Men sjovt at se din kommentar: jeg tænkte seføli på den hændelse i Aalborg strax jeg så videoen her - men ventede ikke at finde en kommentar fra en aalborgenser om det, lol. Jeg bor i Hjørring nu, men vil seføli altid være aalborgenser, hva ellers...

[@stevenbiffoni783]

The first time I ever saw the Vigilante I was about 8. Imagine the impression on someone that age. I am still fascinated by the plane and I firmly believe that no plans built since then, even the fighters and interceptors can match her beauty and clean lines. Also,let's not forget the new technology (for the time) that was incorporated into the design.

[@richardbohall6877]

I was a plane captain with VF - 142 . Flying the F4 - J phantom . Worked nights on the BIG E . MY plane was a spare for the last launch of the day . sitting behind the Island was this vigilante running waiting to be taxied out . i was down 2 spots from him . Maintenance , Troubleshooters my line chief were waving at me and pointing that the vigilante was pulling out. I waved them off thinking I could brace myself when he turned and the exhaust would blow by easy WRONG he got hung up on the number 4 wire gave his plane a little boost to get out sent me flying down the deck took every person that took cover to stop me from rolling over the side .

[@margaretadler6162]

Served aboard the USS Enterprise CVAN65 in 72and73 in 1st Division good times! I served aboard the USS Suribachi AE21 from 70 to 72 and remember seeing a Vigilante for the first time during and underway ammo transfer to the USS Franklin Roosevelt. As a 17year old Seaman apprentice I thought the Vigilante was the most beautiful aircraft I had ever seen and still feel the same way as a 70year old man! Quite an amazing aircraft! SAM Neal

[@scottferguson8343]

same J79 Engines as F4 and did well in ADC fly off vs F106 very fast without tanks on 4 pylons and 10% were lost as RA5C in Vietnam in post strike recon missions

[@jamesparks2500]

The first Vigi's cost about 23 million. Why I remember that....... I don't remember.

[@johnjorgensen4488]

I think Crusaders came in at about 2 million .

[@foxtrot312]

Shit ton of money back then!

[@captainnice9698]

Saw a few Vigilantes in the 1960's landing at NAS Alameda as our house the last one they came over before landing at the base. I remember an F-3H Demon came over so low one time that the pilot waved at us !!! The sky would fill with planes every time and just before an aircraft carrier would dock. The sight and sounds of 20 AD Skyraiders in the air at once was unreal. I miss those days...

[@drguffey]

That F-3H pilot could have been my dad. He was with VF-192 aboard USS Ranger in 60/61. He actually saw me sitting on the roof of our house on Pacific Ave! lol

[@jennharmaajarvi7582]

We were known as Heavy Attack Seven, out of Sanford. Florida. What great memories,,1962-64. I salute all of the VAH-7 and Big "E" Vets, God Bless You, and God Bless America. Thanks for this video!!

[@leongavigan8983]

stationed at Sanford with heavy-7 1962-1964 line crew plane capt. hard work good times, Dave M. Bill C. Swaney Jack

[@nodak38]

Jenn Harmaajarvi .

[@dsplit]

The Soviet Foxbat 25 was copied from the vigilante fighter.

[@charleskimberl7220]

Did anyone know my dad - Jake Kimberl? He was with North American at Sanford.

[@donnalynnhope]

@@leongavigan8983 I'm just curious. Does Dave M stand for McRae?

[@300busdriver]

I was stationed at NAS Key West from 1975-77, and got to see RA-5Cs flying there regularly. I even got to fly the Vigilante simulator once. What a beautiful airplane!

[@MrSpeartip12]

We moved the RA-5Cs from NAS Albany, Ga. To NAS Key West in 1974 after we got back from deployment to Vietnam.

[@cosmoray9750]

Biden Trying To 'Ukrainize' T kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6HZf6p6oqmbr5o

[@MrGoldarr]

I know about the F-4, A4, F-111, F-100 voodoo and F-105, and so on, but I just found out about this aircraft that was used in Vietnam. When you think you know it all.

[@stevenrayl3845]

A-3 was the Douglas Skywarrior. This is the A-5 Vigilante.

[@imthefuckinglizardking4590]

It was way cooler when we could afford multiple types of fighters/bombers on carriers and much more functional. Today all we have is the super hornet which is way too limited on range, payload and speed for effective fleet defense...we would have been way better off if they would have built the new build F14 proposed in the 2000s as the ASF14

[@Buelligan88]

I can't imagine the skills it takes to land one of those giants on a carrier. Those planes and pilots were something special.

[@channelingusllcix3512]

a guy from my home town was killed flying that. Mechanical problems upon takeoff, went into the sea

[@barrybuchert1345]

A lot better than a Air Force pilot.

[@marcuskervy6507]

I was an A6 pilot and did many landings on the Enterprise and other carriers. Landing the A6 is no problem. I've never flown the RA5C but I sat on it's cockpit once. I imagine it would be a difficult thing to land aboard a carrier due to its long nose. Visibility could be a problem. But the Vigilante jocks had no problem.

[@edwardweeden8837]

Yes indeed - SeaWings program (on KZbin) talks about that...the RVAH Squadrons watched very carefully to 'weed out' crews who couldn't make the cut!@@marcuskervy6507

[@jamesholcombe435]

My dad was on board the big E in 62

[@g2macs]

I've walked under an F4 and its a big airplane, but compared to the A3 its a midget. Good god I bet the hanger boss cursed them for taking up so much room.

[@foxtrot312]

A-3d... here hold my beer

[@ariinkeroinen2615]

Big beautiful bird met its hard time. AJ3 or A-5 was not so successful for missions it was meant to. Note also other rising planes, such as A-4 Skyhawk, F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom II.

[@ProOcho116]

She's gorgeous.

[@CaptAmerica12]

Love it, Thanks. Old Farts like me can never get enough.

[@williamdeinzer3900]

I lived on NAS Albany Ga in 1969, age 10... watched them practice carrier take offs/landings constantly... fond childhood memory !!

[@robertcolvin5045]

One of the most beutifull planes ever made.

[@phayzyre1052]

Nice video! They say this was (at the time) the most expensive jet in the Navy; how much did a Vigilante cost?

[@SupesMe]

Just re-watched Dung Tran's Video on them, and this...they are sooooo Pretty

[@richardpehtown2412]

In 1973 on the Constellation we had a Viggie that launched off a forward cat and the internal fuel tank came loose and out the back. This caused the plane to pitch down and collapse the landing gear. Before hitting the drink it rolled 90 degrees. Immediately the crew ejected and were "dapped" across the water for quite a distance, causing injuries. Meanwhile the tank erupted in fire near the end of the cat. I watched this in slack-jawed disbelief on the air ops closed circuit tv from my shop, AIMD workcenter 610 on the 02 deck just above where the forward hangar bay tapered into a passageway and ended. We could hear quite well the gear collapse and the forward fuselage jam into the flight deck.

[@MrSpeartip12]

I remember that. The RAN was Lt. Dipadova, and the pilot was Lcdr. Fowler.

[@MrSpeartip12]

That was the squadron I was in. RVAH-12. We had rebuilt that bird from the ground up before we left Albany.

[@edwardweeden8837]

I LOVE & HAVE ALWEAYS LOVED the RA-5...the ONLY drawback in its design was the single nosewheel. Those relatively high speed traps always made my blood pressure and heart rate JUMP a little. RESPECT to you and all onboard CVA/CV-64, our neighbors at NASNI. Ed Weeden, USS Ranger.

[@x-man5056]

Always loved the looks of A-5. Tail too tall for hanger bay on Coral Sea were I served. Never heard them called A-3 though, that was another large plane, "Skywarrior", completely different. Can anyone explain this conflict?

[@Rampant_Colt]

X-Man - I always thought the Vig should've used shorter twin rudders similar to the F-15 + F-14

[@x-man5056]

Yeah, well, I have to figure they made them tall for a reason. Avoiding flat spin probably. Before the days of twin vert stabs. Sexy plane for it's day though, no doubt.

[@thomass4471]

Before the early 60s the Navy and Air Force had two different systems of designating aircraft models. It was called the A-3 under the Navy system until the services adopted a unified system. Now each service uses the next number in line instead of having two different planes in two different services having the same model number. Or the same aircraft having two different model numbers like the F-4 briefly had. But people in the Navy at the time still called it by the old number. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_United_States_Tri-Service_aircraft_designation_system

[@x-man5056]

@Thomas S- Thanks for your input. Funny that I spent many years working on F-4's in the Navy and for the AIr Force at Fighter depot in Sacramento as civilian and never heard anyone ever refer to F-4's as F110.

[@thomass4471]

It was kind of like the air force calling the F-86 a Sabre and the Navy calling the same plane a Fury. But yeah I think that F-4/F-110 thing was the reason for them finally deciding on a unified list. I've tried reading up on that F-110 Specter thing and I think that's what the F-4 would have been called by the Air Force if they had stayed with separate lists. But I don't think it was ever "official" before the unified system took over. Not many people know about that system. The F-4 was introduced around 1960 and the system changed in '62 so it was a short span of time.

[@philliplopez8745]

That thing would be right at home on today's supercarriers .

[@fooman2108]

My dad was NOT an attack pilot, though he flew off of cv's for 27 years. He used to say the Vigi-bird had two seats so the guy in the back could do laps around his rosary praying the guy in the front could get it back on deck! LOL

[@edwardweeden8837]

You're DEAD RIGHT. Because of its weight and speed combined with that single nosewheel slamming down your heart would usually skip a beat!

[@fooman2108]

@edwardweeden8837 of course, he also said NORMAL people do NOT fly attack aircraft.

[@glitchinthematrix5761]

The f4 looked like it dropped about 10 feet below the deck before gaining some altitude. And did I se the entirety of the cortical stabilizer movingon the vigilante

[@howlinmaddoc528]

Always admired the looks of the A5 Vigilante. When I was in "A" School for AQ [Aviation Fire Control] at NATTC MEMPHIS there was a mounted static display just outside the chow hall.

[@channelingusllcix3512]

it is a pretty plane, that and the f105 thunderchief

[@donwarren9983]

I also went to AE school as a Marine in Memphis, and it is indeed a A5 outside the chow hall

[@scottymac62]

NAS Key West had one at the front gate. What an awesome jet!

[@batvette]

MAD DOC I was an AQ went to afun/p be&e and avionics a school in millington TN in 1980.... then FRAMP at vf-171 at oceana for f-4j ended up in vf21 on cv-43. Memphis and virginia beach was a 10 month long party.

[@whatgoesaroundcomesaround1376]

@batvette - Ditto for me, only in 1978. Went to NAS Cecil Field (Jacksonville, FL) for A-7E FRAMP (VA-174) and HUD AIMD school. Finally got to VA-82 and did three cruises on board USS Nimitz (Med - IO "note: five months without seeing any dry land!", NORLANT, Med).

[@arthureugenepreston]

When I took a photo of an a3j vigilante on the flight deck of the USS ENTERPRISE, I was promptly escorted to the marine compartment where the film was removed from my camera and destroyed

[@x-man5056]

That's weird. What was the issue? I took all kinds of pictures aboard the Coral Sea of every plane we had. No A-5's though. And not during Broken Arrow exercise.

[@thomass4471]

Maybe it was carrying something that they didn't want on film. Maybe it wasn't the aircraft.

[@terrinewman7390]

there is no such aircraft as an A-3 vigilante!

[@x-man5056]

Terri- That's what I thought also but it is true. The designation was changed after the Pentagon decided to unify the Navy and Air Force Numbering system in early sixties. At one time, the F-4 was known as the F-110. Who knew right?

[@michaelgrey7854]

A-3 skywarrior?

[@Ravenfitch82]

Love the Vigilante, I always thought it looked more like a spaceship than anything. Beautiful bird!

[@ssegg380]

We were also in Sanford. My Dad was in (VAH-1), then R/VAH-3 - 1963-64 (RVAH-1); CVA-66 AMERICA 1968 - Shellback cruise (RVAH-13); CVA-59 FORRESTAL 1969-70 (RVAH-13).

[@1ergnas1]

I was with RVAH-13 (bats) 69-70 on the Forrestal AMH-2 out of Albany, GA Night cat-check

[@martinradcliffe4798]

Always think the original strike version of the Vigi was a much more elegant looking aircraft than the more familiar recce version.

[@manassurya2019]

How many different types of fighters do you really need on a carrier? The variety of planes the US built in the 60s is astounding.

[@delten-eleven1910]

Less than 20yrs into jet-age and accelerating technology, military aircraft were designed to be mission specific.

[@Artessnow]

Even into Desert Storm the Navy had a large mix of aircraft.

[@etcsretired]

My Dad served in VAH-7. His rate was AE. He use to talk about his time in the squadron and onboard the Big"E". I miss his stories. Thank you for the video footage.

[@avramnovorra]

Seeing such a beast launching and landing is such a treat! Now if only there were in-cockpit footage for the Vigilante's takeoffs and traps...

[@jacobhoffman927]

I love the variety back in the day A-4s F-4s F-8s and vigees...❤🇺🇸💪

[@edwardweeden8837]

Please correct me if I am wrong (and I am sure you will 😊) but the first deployment of the RA-5 was onboard Ranger way back when...and the last deployment of the RA-5 was also onboard Ranger in 1978-1979...

[@turnoutgear2498]

I just finished building a 1/48 scale plastic model RA5C. Thought it was really awesome bird! Great clips here!

[@jnbfrancisco]

This thing looks very much like an F111. Strange to me that the F111 was to big and heavy, according to Adm Tom Connelly but this AC was fine. Is it just a coincidence that the F14, the substitute for the F111 was named the Tom Cat.

[@caribman10]

Talk about Golden Age...F-4s, F-8s, A-4s, A3Js...what an aircraft complement. What were the COD and radar aircraft deployed? I am assuming this is after the S2F era.

[@LarryWilliams-zd6kr]

My father also served on Big E, in the Token gulf, RVAH Sea Dragons I believe or maybe the Savage Sons I cant remember. back then he was known as Lt Williams, he flew with John Carter, Harry klien, George Schneider, Jomo Thomas, Doug Colman, I remember these names because I grew up with this community from Sanford to Albany Ga, then Key West.

[@mikelliteras397]

My father was on here at this time, the first tour of the first nuclear carrier

[@bobthompson4319]

Iv always thought being a navy pilot would be the closest thing to being a fighter astronaut. Because your on the mother ship for a few weeks or more going to the target country and then you fly over there land and attack. And if you go down then you are ina whole new world. And one of the biggest percs now days is on a carrier you won't get mortored in the middle of the night and you will always have hot meals. And extremely good medical services

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Beautiful plane! Thanks for sharing, and greets from the Netherlands!

[@TheRockerxx69]

Those side deck long reclined metallic rods, are antennas,? Why so many?

[@hobbyhermit66]

Vigilante was beautiful.

[@68pishta68]

We PT'd every morning under the static display of one at NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. I was with B Co. Marine Barracks, and we lived right across the street from the park it was displayed in. Huge plane, sleek as a rocket. I saw a recent pic of that poor plane and it is defaced with graffiti of pink flowers and peace signs.

[@baddog711]

Yea, it's a shame what the short-sighted will do to the machines/buildings that keep them safe.

[@nethanelmasters5170]

Steve Wander :: the Navy should have taken it with them when they closed the base in subic.

[@KK_on_KK]

Pretty sure this was the first cruise for both the E, and the first deployment cruise for the Vigi

[@firefightergoggie]

Always thought these were a fantastic looking aircraft.

[@manintheredvest]

Old and new Salts. Time for the truth of the designations. A-3J was the original designation of the Vigilante. DoD-Navy-Air Force- Army etal in the early 1960's redesignated all aircraft to a uniform system of types. Thus the A-3J became the A-5A, the WF-2 became the E-1B Tracer, The Phantom moved from FJ to F4, the SkyRay (nickname: Ford), Intruder, and all US military aircraft were re designated and that is still true today ( the USAF designated the A-3 Skywarrior : its version as B-66 Destroyer). CVAN-65 (Big E) when I served on her, my squadron was VA-35 out of NAS Oceana. Building 65 as she was known when docked at NAS Alameda was where we came in our air group for two very long WestPac deployments to Yankee and Zulu stations. Hope this helps.

[@hckyplyr9285]

People there have been two designation systems - one pre 1962 and one post. Under the pre-62 system it was the A3J post it was A-5. The Skywarrior was A3D pre and A-3 post 1962. Thank the worst SECDEF in US history McNamara for that.

[@dustonwhite2284]

My dad was in RVAH-13 Heavy Bats and worked on Avionics on these.

[@guylee4033]

I worked at North American for a short time in 1961. Tested some antennas that are on this aircraft. The cockpit of this airplane looked incredibly small to me.

[@mattbates6887]

I made an Airfix plastic model of the Vigilante when I was a kid, love the US Navy gray colour scheme.

[@steveowens913]

I was in a Phantom squadron, VF-102 from late '69 thru end of July of '71. We had some Vigilantes on the Independence. Beautiful plane. I thought it looked similar to the Concorde!! Unfortunately, we had one that broke a tailhook 30 days after leaving Norfolk, just one day b4 pulling "in" to Naples for a break. Lost 2 LCDR 's and the ship was immediately stopped during flight ops. Will never forget it.

[@mattbates6887]

@@steveowens913 Yes the Vigilante sure is a beautiful plane, a real classic from the time. As far as I can remember, it was only Airfix that made the 1/72 Vigilante scale model in the 70s. You can see the USS John F kennedy model on Ebay.

[@eugenehanka389]

@@mattbates6887 Revell made an A3J Vigilante kit in the mid-'60's - not sure if it was 1/72 of a bit smaller.

[@mattbates6887]

@@eugenehanka389 I don't remember seeing the 60s Revell model Vigilante, it probably was 1/72 scale. Revell also did 1/24 aircraft model kits. I was also a big fan of making Frog aircraft model kits at the time, they were very well made.

[@MrSpeartip12]

This is the first aircraft I worked on out of AE “A” school.

[@hobsonbeeman7529]

I wonder if that A3J can outrun the F4 Phantom?

[@aj-2savage896]

Crusaders and Viggies! This borders on pornographic!

[@intercommerce]

Another Fine Design from North American Aviation

[@keptinkaos6384]

well that's definitely the Enterprise there's only one tower like that

[@foxtrot312]

Was... not n E more 😞

[@garymckee448]

Hard to believe that this is 60 years ago.

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

The days they used the Saddle Shoe to launch planes. Thankfully they invented the Launch Bar....

[@Jackie-bn6dz]

形が1950年代とは思えないほど先進的すぎる

[@TheJmnewton]

What a beautiful aircraft.

[@G_A_Z_23]

Of course it’s the enterprise ._.

[@Chainspike101]

Wonder where the support fleet is?

[@allgood6760]

Awesome.. cool plane👍🇳🇿

[@terifarley4770]

I know this is an old post video but I had to ask, did the rear firing bomb/tank deployment for dropping nukes actually work? Every official account is it was a failure. Was it enough of a failure that vigilantes would never have been used in WW3 in a nuclear bombing role off carriers?

[@dnate697]

Look closer and you 'll see where Russkie got the idea of the Mig-25 and then the F-15 and the canceled Fixed-wing F-14.

[@terrinewman7390]

the vigilante was the A-5 not the A-3! the A-3 was called the whale and was bigger than the A-5 I know because I flew in the whale A-3 as a crew member.

[@KB4QAA]

TN: The Vigi was originally designated A3J.

[@300busdriver]

A3J was the designation for the Vigilante under the old designation system, prior to 1962. A - Attack 3 - third design J - North American Aviation (each manufacturer got its own letter designator). In 1962, it was redesignated the A-5. Under the old system, the F-4 Phantom was called the F4H (Fighter, fourth design, McDonnell Aircraft) by the Navy and F-110 by the Air Force. Both became different models of the F-4 after the redesignation. The A-3 Skywarrior (or Whale) was called the A3D before 1962 (Attack, third design, Douglas Aircraft). Easy to see why they changed the Navy's designation system!

[@porscheguy09]

I’ve loved military aircraft and all aircraft in general since I was a little boy and have always thought I knew about most of the aircraft used by the US military but this is the first time I’ve ever heard of or seen this aircraft. I never knew it even existed until now.

[@delten-eleven1910]

2:00 A-5, A-4, F-8 and the Phantom on the deck together: Awsome!

[@danginther2795]

A3 was the whale and A5 the vigilante when I was on CV64

[@terrinewman7390]

I was wondering if any one but me caught that! I flew in the EKA-3 from 1973 to 1978

[@300busdriver]

A3J was the designation for the Vigilante under the old designation system, prior to 1962. A - Attack 3 - third design J - North American Aviation (each manufacturer got its own letter designator). In 1962, it was redesignated the A-5. Under the old system, the F-4 Phantom was called the F4H (Fighter, fourth design, McDonnell Aircraft) by the Navy and F-110 by the Air Force. Both became different models of the F-4 after the redesignation. The A-3 Skywarrior (or Whale) was called the A3D before 1962 (Attack, third design, Douglas Aircraft). Easy to see why they changed the Navy's designation system!

[@kennethwickersham5789]

Jelly Bread "Come Together" Corvallis access media...Corvallis Oregon

[@jimcoulton3136]

V2 cat spotter 1966

[@crsvetteii1753]

I clearly see the Enterprise! So WHERE is the Vigilante??

[@oppouti8581]

seragam semua jet nya ya . . . kalau jenis type jet para malaikat tidak diketahui jenis type nya, yang penting pas untuk yang menjadi target nya diudara, dilaut, dan didaratan dikawasan prov. sumut, mau saya seperti ini semoga dikabul kan Allah.

[@denismassart5508]

Aéronef magnifique, majestueux et gracieux ! Magnificent, majestic and graceful aircraft !

[@SupesMe]

Wow...bigger than a F-14?

[@trespire]

Seeing as the A3J / A-5A is very fast at Mach 2.5, what was the job of the subsonic A-4 Skyhawks ? Were the Vigilante still in their original nuclear attack role in '61 '62 ?

[@somewhere6]

As you said, the A-5 was originally for long range nuclear attack. Later, it was re-fitted for reconnaissance. It never flew the kind of general purpose strike missions the Skyhawks did as it was not equipped to do them.

[@gilbertjackson9742]

JFTR: it is an A-5 Vigelante. This is the AirCraft carrier borne sister to the AF F-111 Aardvark.

[@Ranb]

Beautiful aircraft! Sadly no sound.

[@ivanildonascimento7538]

GRANDES SEMELHANÇAS DO SU-33 COM O A-5 VIGILANTE!!!!!!

[@roblockhart6104]

Was the blueprint for the mig-25. Little known tidbit. Although photos of it are hard to come by, the vigilante concept had duel rudders.

[@MrKentaroMotoPI]

Bobby Mack Yes. NAA was trying to create a platform that could be morphed into a fighter version. Twin tails provide more yaw authority at high angles of attack, but are heavier. The Navy told NAA to remove them. The planar supersonic inlets were retained, however. That design also works better at high angles of attack than axisymmetric inlets, but the "axi" works better at cruise. It's no surprise that so many fighter designs copied the Vigilante.

[@KlunkerRider]

Which was the largest carrier aircraft? The F-111, the A-5, or the B-66 ?

[@johnallen1855]

KlunkerRider depends on how you're measuring...weight? (probably the A-3D), wingspan (probably the F-111B), but the veggies was certainly up there. but hey, I have been wrong before.

[@KB4QAA]

KR: They all come out as 'biggest" depending on what dimension H-W-L or Weight. BTW, don't forget the P2V Neptune with served for a short time as the Navy's nuclear bomber (launch only). BTW, the Navy never used the B-66. It had the Douglas A3D/A-3 Skywarrior, nick named "Whale", which while similar looking is an entirely different design. Another BTW: the F-111B never served in the Navy so it really isn't competitive with the others.

[@johnallen1855]

KlunkerRider another footnote, the Navy successfully tested the ability of the C-130 to land and take off from a carrier, although the concept was never implemented...

[@alabbe1852]

its long time but 1 test a kc 130f at 121 000 lbs-- f 111 b 88 000 but never built--- A 3 d skywarrior at 82 000 lbs-- F 14 d 74 350 lbs --- Ra 5c vigilante 63 000 lbs and the f 4 b/j/n/s 61800 lbs all aircraft its a max take off but i am not sure its take off with this weight and the kc 130 f its not a full charge

[@keptinkaos6384]

I think the navy would chuck rocks of a carrier if it had and an engine and thought it was a good idea and get a marine to fly the bastard thing

[@henryvagincourt]

Wow, they were some size.

[@rinsedpie]

Such a big aircraft!