Military Nuts Weekly Warbird
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Hi forumites, with the permission of MBT, I have set up this thread for older planes that are either out of the limelight for a long time, or have retired.
For this week we shall see about the Rockwell A-5 Vigilante, nuke capable carrier-based bomber. -
The A-5 was a very advanced supersonic attack aircraft, optimized for low-level attacks at high speed. It was long and angular, with rectangular air intakes, small, thin swept wings incorporating large full-span flaps, and all-moving tail surfaces. But the A-5, one of the biggest aircraft ever operated from a carrier, was not successful in its intended role as nuclear bomber, because the bomb ejection mechanism was unsatisfactory. The bomb bay was between the engines, and the plan was to expell the bomb rearwards, together with two empty fuel tanks. 63 bombers were built, but all but ten were converted to RA-5C reconnaissance aircraft. There were also 55 new RA-5Cs built. These were very effective and served until 1974.
The first prototype of the YA3J-1 Vigilante, as it was formally designated, was rolled out on 16 May 1958, with first flight on 31 August 1958. The aircraft was long and sleek, with a relatively small swept-back wing, and all-moving horizontal and vertical tailplanes. The Vigilante was powered by twin General Electric YJ79-GE-2 engines, and had a large fuel capacity to give it range and permit extended flight in afterburner. The two crewmen flew in tandem cockpits equipped with North American HS-1 rocket ejection seats.
The first production A3J-1 Vigilantes flew in 1960. Production aircraft were progressively fitted with more powerful J-79 engine variants, leading to the definitive J-79-GE-8 engines, with 7,480 kilograms (16,500 pounds) thrust. These were the same engines used on common variants of the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom fighter, simplifying Navy logistics and maintenance.
Carrier trials began in July 1960, and revealed no severe problems. To promote the aircraft to the US Congress, the Navy also established several speed and altitude records with the aircraft.
The A-3J1 Vigilante began to flow to operational units in 1961, with last deliveries of the variant in 1963, when it was redesignated the A-5A due to a Defense Department decision to come up with a common designation scheme for US military aircraft.
The decision to develop the Vigilante strictly as a reconnaissance aircraft was taken while efforts were being made to enhance its attack abilities, as well as modify it for reconnaissance. An improved attack variant, the A3J-2 (later the A-5B), and a reconnaissance version, the RA-5C, were both built.
Work began on the A-5B in 1961, with the first example flying at the end of April 1962. The most visible change from the A-5A was a modified "humpback" fuselage that offered a substantial increase in fuel capacity. Longer and wider flaps were fitted, as well as a improved "blown flaps" scheme, in which high-pressure engine bleed was fed forward to the front of the wing to enhance flap performance.
The RA-5C proved so useful in Vietnam, however, that the Navy ordered 46 new RA-5Cs in 1968. Only 36 would be actually completed, however, with the last rolling off the production line in August 1970. This final batch featured J-79-GE-10 engines with 8,100 kilograms (17,860 pounds) thrust, as well as a leading-edge wing extension trailing back from the air intakes and slightly modified air intakes.
A total of 156 Vigilantes were built, including prototypes. One is known to survive on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. A number were used as nonflying targets, including one that was used a target for the Tomahawk cruise missile whose destruction is documented by well-known imagery.
General characteristics
Primary function Tactical reconnaissance, carrier-based attack aircraft
Contractor North American / Rockwell
Power plant Two turbojet General Electric J79-GE-8 engines
Thrust normal 2x 10,800 lb 2x 48 kN
afterburner 2x 17,000 lb 2x 75.6 kN
Length 76 ft 6 in 23.32 m
Height 19 ft 5.79 m
Wingspan 53 ft 16.15 m
Weight empty 37,500 lb 17,009 kg
Max. takeoff weight 79,588 lb 36,094 kg
Range 1,500 miles 2,415 km
Cruising speed 1,254 mph 2,019 km/h
Max. speed 1,385 mph 2,230 km/h
Ceiling 48,400 ft 14,752 m
Crew Two (pilot, navigator)
Taken from http://www.military.cz/usa/air/post_war/a5/a5_en.htm -
Too long-winded.
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Taken from http://www.military.cz/usa/air/post_war/a5/a5_en.htm -
[/b]
A cool warbird, was the biggest carrier-based fighter. -
This oone from http://www.eichhorn.ws/html/body_north_american_a-5a_vigilante.htm...............
This from http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Graphics/A-5A/Medium/EG-0001-01.gif........
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P-38 "Lightning" Fighter
General Specifications
Aircraft Type: Fighter
Crew Size: 1
Weaponry: 4 machine guns (50-caliber)
1 20mm cannon
Gross Weight: 14,456 lbs (6,556 kg)
Dimensions
Length: 37 ft. 10 in. (11.53 m)
Height: 12 ft. 10 in. (3.91 m)
Wingspan: 52 ft. (15.85 m)
Propulsion
Number of Engines: 2
Powerplant: Allison V-1710-27/29
Horsepower: 1,150 hp each
Performance
Range: 500 miles (805 km)
Cruising Speed: 300 mph (483 km/h)
Maximum Speed: 390 mph (628 km/h)
Climb rate: 2,500 ft/min (762 m/min)
Maximum Altitude: 39,000 ft (11,887 m)
A total of 10,113 were manufactured, with 24 still surviving in the year 2001 and 6 of these still flying. -
Spitfire Fighter
General Specifications (Mk VA)
Aircraft Type: Fighter
Crew Size: 1
Weaponry: 8 Browning machine guns (7.7mm)
Gross Weight: 6,400 pounds (2,899 kg)
Dimensions
Length: 29 ft. 11 in. (9.12 m)
Height: 9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft. 10 in. (11.23 m)
Propulsion
Number of Engines: 1
Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 V-12 piston engine
Horsepower: 1,478 hp
Performance
Range: 1,135 miles (1,826 km)
Maximum Speed: 374 mph (602 km/hr)
Maximum Altitude: 37,000 ft (11,277 m) -
Messerschmitt Me-109 Fighter
General Specifications
Aircraft Type: Fighter
Manufacturer: Messerschmitt AG
Crew Size: 1
Weaponry: 2 machine guns (7.9mm)
2 cannons (20mm)
Maximum Weight: 7,500 lbs (3,398 kg)
Dimensions
Length: 28 ft. 3.75 in. (8.63 m)
Height: 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft. 6.5 in. (9.92 m)
Propulsion
Number of Engines: 1
Powerplant: Liquid-cooled Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 twelve-cylinder inverted-vee engine
Horsepower: 1,475 hp
Performance
Range: 425 miles (664 km) loaded
Maximum Speed: 387 mph (623 km/h)
Maximum Altitude: 38,500 ft (11,734 m) -
A6M Zero
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi
Base model: A6M
Designation: A6M
Version: 2
Nickname: Zero
Basic role: Fighter (Japan)
Crew: Pilot
Specifications
Length: 29' 9" 9.0 m
Height: 11' 5" 3.4 m
Wingspan: 39' 4.5" 12.0 m
Max Weight: 5,313 lb 2,409 kg
Propulsion
No. of Engines: 1
Powerplant: Nakajima Sakae 12
Horsepower (each): 925
Performance
Range: 1,165 miles 1,876 km
Max Speed: 316 mph 508 km/h 274 kt
Ceiling: 33,790 ft 10,299 m -
SR-71 Blackbird
Name: SR-71A
Manufacture: Lockheed 'Skunk Works'
Number Built: 32
Construction: Titanium (Beta-120/Ti-13V-11Cr-3A1) Monococque with some super-high- temperature palstics.
Operating Speed: 2,000 mph 3,219 kph (Mach 3+)
Max. Speed: 2,193 mph 3,529 kph (Mach 3.31)
Operating Ceiling: 85,069 ft ( 25,929 m )
Max. Ceiling: 101,500 ft ( 30,937 m )
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney J58 after-burning turbo-ramjets
Dry ( Military ) Thrust: 23,000lb 10,433 kg (102.3 kN)
Wet ( Afterburning ) Thrust: 32,500lb 14,742 kg (144.6 kN)
Unrefuelled Range: 2,982 miles ( 4,800 km )
Length: 107 ft, 5 in ( 32.74 m )
Height: 16 ft, 6 in ( ? m )
Wingspan: 55 ft, 7 in ( 16.94 m )
Wing Area: 1,795 ft² ( 166.76 m² )
Empty Weight: 65,000lb ( 29,484 kg )
Max. Fuel Weight: 80,000lb ( 36,287 kg )
Normal Takeoff Weight: 140,000lb ( 63,503 kg )
Max. Takeoff Weight: 170,000lb ( 77,110 kg )
First Operational Flight: March 21, 1968
Total Sorties: 17,300
Operational Sorties: 3,551 -
.............. I meant it to be 1 a week.
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nvm just make sure you guys dun run out of planes to talk abt after 1 year.Originally posted by SBS3624G:.............. I meant it to be 1 a week. -
A-5 got a weird compartment weapon bay to store a nuke bomb if i remeber correctly....
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Hey u guys or ladies,pl make full use of ur cool photos.
We can see only part of them.
1.Pl open a PAINT file from START or ACCESSORIES. then COPY IMAGE from
the source,right click ,move cursor to COPY IMAGE,then left click.
2.PASTE THE IMAGE IN PAINT file,reduce the size by click the retangle ,move the
arrow when only 2 arroes appear. SAVE it on DESK TOP.
3.OPen a account www.photobucket.com free of course.
right click BROWSE , click cursor on desk top,right click file name,right click open,
file name now appears in photobucket,
right click file name in PICTURE in photobucket,then left click,(that is copy
the file name)
paste file name in Forums,but before that u have to click Img.
after paste file name,click Img.
Pl upload the image to www.photobucket.com during non-peak hours.It may just take few minutes.If not ,may take 30 mins!!
2.May i appeal to Moderators to teach how to put photo,or even adjust them,
b) Quote etc.....in home page.
Some old wo/men here really dunt know how to do.I am one of them -
....... if future, I will try.Originally posted by lionnoisy:Hey u guys or ladies,pl make full use of ur cool photos.
We can see only part of them.
1.Pl open a PAINT file from START or ACCESSORIES. then COPY IMAGE from
the source,right click ,move cursor to COPY IMAGE,then left click.
2.PASTE THE IMAGE IN PAINT file,reduce the size by click the retangle ,move the
arrow when only 2 arroes appear. SAVE it on DESK TOP.
3.OPen a account www.photobucket.com free of course.
right click BROWSE , click cursor on desk top,right click file name,right click open,
file name now appears in photobucket,
right click file name in PICTURE in photobucket,then left click,(that is copy
the file name)
paste file name in Forums,but before that u have to click Img.
after paste file name,click Img.
Pl upload the image to www.photobucket.com during non-peak hours.It may just take few minutes.If not ,may take 30 mins!!
2.May i appeal to Moderators to teach how to put photo,or even adjust them,
b) Quote etc.....in home page.
Some old wo/men here really dunt know how to do.I am one of them Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
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i always felt that Fw-190 is the better plane. Me-109 felt more like a political choice. Or that's how i felt after reading articles about the 2 planes years ago.Originally posted by Joshua1975:Messerschmitt Me-109 Fighter
General Specifications
Aircraft Type: Fighter
Manufacturer: Messerschmitt AG
Crew Size: 1
Weaponry: 2 machine guns (7.9mm)
2 cannons (20mm)
Maximum Weight: 7,500 lbs (3,398 kg)
Dimensions
Length: 28 ft. 3.75 in. (8.63 m)
Height: 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft. 6.5 in. (9.92 m)
Propulsion
Number of Engines: 1
Powerplant: Liquid-cooled Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 twelve-cylinder inverted-vee engine
Horsepower: 1,475 hp
Performance
Range: 425 miles (664 km) loaded
Maximum Speed: 387 mph (623 km/h)
Maximum Altitude: 38,500 ft (11,734 m)