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Line 2:
Line 2: + − In 1953, [[North American Aviation]] began plans for a supersonic carrier-based bomber which could deliver nuclear weapons at long range. The [[United States Navy]], in need of an aircraft to replace the [[A-3 Skywarrior]], contracted the company to build it in 1956; the first prototype was two years and two days later in 1958. Although a large, unwieldy aircraft, it was surprisingly fast and maneuverable. It also featured a 'linear bomb bay', where the [[bomb]] was ejected back from the bomb bay at the same speed of the aircraft. This obliviated the need for forward-looking bombsights.+ + +
Category, further reading
==Design==
==Design==
In 1953, [[North American Aviation]] began plans for a supersonic carrier-based bomber which could deliver nuclear weapons at long range. The [[United States Navy]], in need of an aircraft to replace the [[A-3 Skywarrior]], contracted the company to build it in 1956; the first prototype was two years and two days later in 1958. Although a large, unwieldy aircraft, it was surprisingly fast and maneuverable. It also featured a 'linear bomb bay', where the [[bomb]] was ejected back from the bomb bay at the same speed of the aircraft. This obliviated the need for forward-looking bombsights.
==Further Reading==
*''RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat'', by Robert Powell, Osprey Publishing, 2004
[[Category:Aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft]]
[[Category:United States Navy]]