March 31, 2008
A three-quarter portside aerial view of an RA-5C Vigilante aircraft, Reconnaissance Attack Squadron 7 (RVAH-7) known as the "Peacemakers of the Fleet" and was assigned to the USS RANGER (CV 61) from February 21 to September 22, 1979. This photograph may show the Vigilante's last flight, since all Vigilante aircraft were officially retired in September 1979 and the RVAH-7 was officially decommissioned in October 1979.
Was reminded of this plane by reading "Thai Boom" by R.R. "Boom" Powell in a recent Flights & Fancy column in Air & Space magazine. It appears that the column was once online but is no longer. If I find it I'll link.
In the meantime, enjoy this awesome shot of the Vigilante.
What a schockingly un-PC name for a piece of American military hardware. I hope the pilots underwent sensitivity training before being assigned to these...ahem, Vigilante...units.
You think thats bad. The original mission of the Vigilante wasn't recon. That puppy was a high speed nuke delivery system. Now THATS "un-PC"
coolhand,
And armed with the WAH-1 weapon, which left buildings standing and only killed nuns and puppies.
It was even more Un-PC than that. It pooped the bomb out it's butt! It had a linear Bombay that dropped ordnance out from an opening in the faring between the exhausts of its engines in the rear.
MO Comments Policy: I make it up as I go along
Basically, I don't mess with them unless you're out of line or spamming. The definition of "out of line" is 'whatever Murdoc feels is out of line' but is generally limited to truly hateful stuff.
Don't make a fool out of yourself.
