A3J-1/A-5A Vigilante

[tigercat2]

While doing some research on the A3J-1/A-5A Vigilante, I noticed that most of the early aircraft (built as bombers, not recon aircraft) were eventually converted into RA-5Cs.  Also, a number of new RA-5Cs were built as recon platforms from the beginning.  Out of a total of 156 Vigilantes built, it looks like 140 of those were RA-5Cs (conversions or new-builds).  I presume that 16 A3J-1s were never converted to recon models; does this mean that all 16 crashed prior to the conversion process?  Were there any non-recon birds put in storage at Davis Montham?

Thanks.


Wes W.

[pyro-manic]

Perhaps used as training airframes, or cannibalised for spare parts as well as accidents...?

[PR19_Kit]

I wish someone would do a backwards conversion to the A-5A from the various RA-5C kits about. I looked at doing it myself but there's a surprising amount of work in there.

[tigercat2]

I wish someone would do a backwards conversion to the A-5A from the various RA-5C kits about. I looked at doing it myself but there's a surprising amount of work in there.

Me, too.  There is the old 1/78 scale Monogram A-5A that, while very basic, makes into a reasonable model.  The size difference with the 1/72 kit is not too bad, and it makes a good what-if.  I did one as a single place USAF interceptor several years ago.


Wes W.

[sandiego89]

While doing some research on the A3J-1/A-5A Vigilante, I noticed that most of the early aircraft (built as bombers, not recon aircraft) were eventually converted into RA-5Cs.  Also, a number of new RA-5Cs were built as recon platforms from the beginning.  Out of a total of 156 Vigilantes built, it looks like 140 of those were RA-5Cs (conversions or new-builds).  I presume that 16 A3J-1s were never converted to recon models; does this mean that all 16 crashed prior to the conversion process?  Were there any non-recon birds put in storage at Davis Montham?

Thanks.


Wes W.

Not all 16 non-converted early versions were lost in accidents, as we do have the sole "flat type" survivor on a stick at Patuxeunt River.  She is the only A-3J/A-5A still known to exist, and is indeed an impressive (but getting weary) sight. She needs to get indoors.  This source has a list of accidents, while not specifing specific type, I would reason that from the the first loss in 1959 to those into around 1962 and perhaps a bit beyond would involve early A3-J/A-5A.  We do have some overlap, as the early "bombers" were still being delivered into 1963.  Both the A-5B and the RA-5C, both with the dorsal hump, first flew in 1962.    

http://www.carrierbuilders.net/articles/20050901_RA-5C_Review/RA5C_Vigilante4.htm  

I doubt any early flat tops made it to desert storage. Good ones would have been sent to the conversion line.  If it was good enough to fly to Davis-Monthan it would be good enough to fly to the conversion line.  Preservation was not likely a major driver at the time, but conversion was.  I would imagine a few of the early test birds were not good candidates for conversion as they were already knackered from trials, were to a different standard (as many essentially hand built prototypes/test birds are), the accidents, lack of full mission equipment, and other reasons.  Any flat top surviors were likely stripped for spares and uncerimoniously striken and scrapped in-situ at various bases/sites (except our survivor of course).  All educated guesses however.          

[tigercat2]

Thanks so much for this great source of info on the Vigi.


Wes W.