The North American RA-5C Vigilante

The North American RA-5C Vigilante. The Last and Most Advanced Aircraft Stationed at NAS Sanford. The Vigilante rises on this site to preserve a time in our history when the City of Sanford’s indomitable sense of patriotism and community with Naval Aviation demonstrated the best of America’s heritage. May this place be long remembered as a monument to the remarkable human spirit demonstrated by the citizens of Sanford, and by the men and women of the U.S. Navy and their families. , The Vigilante was an extraordinarily advanced carrier aircraft. It was first developed and deployed in 1961 as a nuclear attack bomber. In 1964 it was introduced as the most effective multi-sensor tactical reconnaissance system ever made available to American forces. Some Vigilante Technology “Firsts” included: , .First Supersonic High/Low Altitude Carrier Aircraft , .First Production Fly-By-Wire Flight Control System , .First Deflector/Spoiler Flight Controls(no ailerons) , .First variable geometry horizontal ramp engine inlets , .First subsonic and supersonic escape/ejection system , .First digital navigational and bombing computer , .First production :”Heads-Up” cockpit display system , .First integrated Inertial Bombing/Navigation system , .First integrated Terrain Avoidance system , .First integrated electronic warfare system , , Enduring Vigilante Legacies for America’s National Defense , Advanced technology and design for today’s aircraft , A lasting benchmark for multi-sensor tactical recon , Exceptional Government-Industry teamwork and management , , RA-5C Vigilante Operational and Performance Data , Operationally, the Vigilante provided highly effective tactical reconnaissance, using a broad multi-sensor capability, in a typical operational mission. The Vigilante made a high speed, high or low altitude pass, using its varied sensors to gather continuous, full-spectrum electronic, infrared, side-locking Radar, and serial frame or panoramic camera data on the entire tactical area, the aircraft served worldwide, with extensive combat in Vietnam and remained operational through 1978. , , Crew: , Pilot and Recon Attack Navigator (RAN) , Max Speed at Sea-Level (MPH) 808 (Mach 1 05) , Max Speed at 40,000 Ft. (MPH) 1,320 (Mach 2) , Service Ceiling (Ft) 49,000 , Combat Radius (MI) 1,508 , Engines: , Two J79-GE-10 Turbojets with afterburner-17.859 lbs thrust each. , Weights and Loading: , Average mission weight without fuel (lbs) 42,000 , Max carrier takeoff weight (lbs) 79,500 , . Max Carrier landing weight (lbs) 50,000 at 160 MPH , Dimensions , Length (Ft) 76.5 , Wingspan (Ft) 53.0 , Height (Ft) 19.3 , , Displays in the Domestic Terminal Building are also part of , The NAS Sanford Memorial – They provide additional , Historic Vigilante information . , . This historical marker is in Sanford in Seminole County Florida