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It would have been quite a sight on board the carrier Saratoga (CVA 60) watching these Vigis launch on April 17, 1964, forty-nine years ago today. Note that they are Heavy Attack Squadron (VAH) 5 birds normally embarked in Ranger (CVA 61).
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Friday, April 19, 2013
Heavy Attack Squadron 5. A-5 Vigilantes aboard the Saratoga (CVA 60)
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"Interesting fact? The F-35 is heavier than the A-5 Vigilante. That includes its empty weight, loaded weight and maximum takeoff weight."
ReplyDeleteNo it isn't. The Vigilante topped out at almost 80,000lbs. Looks like you wrapped yourself around the axle (again) talking about shit you know nothing about. Ah well.
For the A-5A Solomon is correct. The RA-5C was heavier and we could go around about how the "70,000 lb class" quoted for the F-35C compares to the 79,588 max weight of the RA-5C but that seems more like wrapping around the axle to me. And of course the A-5 was bigger than the A-6 . . .
DeleteWhy so sensitive? Touchy about anything that highlights the fact the F-35 was never intended to be a lightweight F-16 replacement like the PowerPoints said it was?
A-5
ReplyDeleteCrew: 2
Length: 76 ft 6 in (23.32 m)
Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.16 m)
Height: 19 ft 4¾ in (5.91 m)
Wing area: 700 ft² (65.1 m²)
Empty weight: 32,714 lb (14,870 kg)
Loaded weight: 47,530 lb (21,605 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 62,953 lb (28,615 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J79-GE-8 afterburning turbojets
Dry thrust: 10,900 lbf[28] (48 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 17,000 lbf[28] (76 kN) each
F35 (subject to considerable and on going variations...) and these may not be 100% official as I have seen a few un-official/official
Crew: 1
Length: 51.4 ft (15.67 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft[N 5] (10.7 m)
Height: 14.2 ft[N 6] (4.33 m)
Wing area: 460 ft²[247] (42.7 m²)
Empty weight: 29,300 lb (13,300 kg)
Loaded weight: 49,540 lb[194][N 7][471] (22,470 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 70,000 lb[N 8] (31,800 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan
Dry thrust: 28,000 lbf[472][N 9] (125 kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 43,000 lbf[472][473] (191 kN)
Internal fuel capacity: 18,480 lb (8,382 kg)[N 10]
And if it gets any heavier the F35 could always double as the boat anchor....or is it already?
ReplyDeleteThe Vigi was one hell of a blowtorch on the Cats, shooting a flame almost 40 feet long.
ReplyDeleteRVAH-1 aboard Sara lost a Vigilante to a SAM in June 1972 right over Haiphong Harbor.
Helos from HC-7 made the pick up and both Crewmen survived.
The problems of the rear ejection bomb bay made the vehicle less than satisfactory bomber, the Vig could haul Navy Ass very fast though and made it a good recon bird.
Fuel was also stored in tanks inside the bomb bay and upon dropping the MK-28 both fuel tanks were to drop also. Unfortunately upon catapulting from the deck the fuel tanks would sometimes self eject and fall right on the flight deck forward.
Sara flew A5C Vigilantes.