Talk:North American A-5 Vigilante

Number of A-5B delivered as YA-5C

The main text says that 5 aircraft were built as YA-5C, whereas the text accompanying the photo of the YA-5C prototype says that six YA-5C (BuNos 149300-149305) existed. I therefore believe that the main text should be corrected ~2026-12558-02 (talk) 15:31, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

Took a while to realise that you were referring to text at Commons rather than caption text in the article. I traced the source of the image to the 1962 publication, the image is taken from there but the text is not supported.

Bureau number lists do appear to confirm six YA-5C aircraft, all intended as A-5B but delivered as YA-5C. There is much confusion in this article as the type was affected by the US designation system changes (A3J to A-5) and aircraft ordered as one variant were converted on the production line to another variant and others were converted from one variant to another in service (the six YA-5Cs were introduced in 1963 and converted to RA-5C in 1965). It needs an editor with the best reliable sources and the willpower to clarify, a production table might help (F-104 example). Each line of the variant section should have a citation, not usually required but it would be helpful in this case. Nimbus (Cumulus nimbus floats by) 11:37, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

Humorous "record"

At about the 17 minute mark of this documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXPc44zj7Ts

test pilot Mark Gillespie jokingly claimed to have the speed and altitude record for an "open cockpit" aircraft due to the canopy flying off at 1.42 mach and 42,000 feet altitude. MyIP19216811 (talk) 00:05, 18 April 2026 (UTC)