Space Tiger Hobbes Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) I know what's shown in the attached photo, but does anyone know if these planes actually had the straight edge intakes or the curved edge intakes? Thanks. (Mod, free to delete the previous post. My connectivity stinks.) Edited May 20, 2017 by Space Tiger Hobbes added delete for mod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
efd327 Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) 156608 would have the straight intakes. 148925 had curved intakes. Edited May 20, 2017 by efd327 Incorrect information in initial post. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted May 20, 2017 Author Share Posted May 20, 2017 Thanks. I bought a set of resin intakes before I knew there was a difference. I'm not so caught up on one or another version that I'm going to buy another set just because the markings don't match if I can help it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Note that engines were different too, among other things: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2010/12/vigilante.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted May 20, 2017 Author Share Posted May 20, 2017 Thanks for the link. So I have the later straight inlets but I bought the earlier Aires engines instead of the later J-79s, which I assume I could source from any later Phantom kit or aftermarket engines? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jpk Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Quote Yes, any later J79-10 exhaust will work, F-4J/S or F-4E Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 There wasn't a very good illustration comparing the nozzles in that link. See http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2012/12/j79-exhaust-nozzles.html However, I'm still looking for good pictures of the -8 and -10 nozzles in the A-5. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 Seems to me there was a wing leading-edge extension on the later ones, too, if I am not mistaken. Can't remember if that was tied to the intake profile shape or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 11 hours ago, Paul Boyer said: Seems to me there was a wing leading-edge extension on the later ones, too, if I am not mistaken. Can't remember if that was tied to the intake profile shape or not. As far as I know, it was. That's in the first link. There was also a different fairing added to the tip of the vertical fin for an antenna at some point. And a pair of antennas or sensors appears to have been added to the top of the fuselage on a few aircraft but nobody has told me what it is yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 (edited) On 5/20/2017 at 0:09 PM, Tailspin Turtle said: There wasn't a very good illustration comparing the nozzles in that link. See http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2012/12/j79-exhaust-nozzles.html However, I'm still looking for good pictures of the -8 and -10 nozzles in the A-5. Edited May 21, 2017 by picknpluck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jpk Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Those appear to be the -8's in a late -10 airframe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 6 hours ago, jpk said: Those appear to be the -8's in a late -10 airframe. They probably are. The problem is while the -8s are obvious if you can see the collar (the upper portion of which is generally hidden by the A-5 airframe), the tips of the outer petals (they are not terminated straight across but have sort of eyelet on each end), the exterior of the outer petals (they do not have a smooth surface), the interior of the petals (there is an obvious longitudinal rib), or the nozzle is completely closed down as it would be between idle and military power, some pictures do not provide a good enough view of those features and in fact the most obvious, petal tips and interior actuator, are hidden by the red cover in the above pictures. However, the nozzle does appear to be closed down like a -8's and the exterior of the outer petals is not smooth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon50EX Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Any chance the leading edge root extensions on the late-build aircraft had anything to do with reducing approach speeds? Its strictly an educated guess, but my take on the extended trailing edge on the RA-5s was its an earlier effort to either reduce landing speeds or maybe accommodate the higher gross weights of the recce versions.....? Like i said strictly a guess. -d- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Not to reduce landing speeds but to improve control at low (including landing?) speeds. From Aerofax Minigraph #9 by Michael Grove & Jay Miller: With the advent of the J79-GE-10, the increased mass flow requirements of this engine led to a re-design of the Vigilante's intake configuration. ..... Along with this upgrade, wing leading edge root extensions were added to enhance longitudinal control while operating in the low speed end of the performance envelope. J79-GE-10s were installed at the factory in the last 36 airframes, BuNo 156608 thru 156643. These airframes were essentially the "second" production run. Early airframes from the initial production run (145157 thru 151728) that received AFC328 had provisions for installing either -8 or -10 J79s. It's unclear (to me) if AFC328 included the larger intakes and root extensions but I assume it did. The enlarged flaps, along with the blown leading edge flaps and the increased thrust of the J79-GE-8, increased the gross takeoff weight of the A3J-2 / A-5B by 60% over the A3J-1. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 On 5/20/2017 at 2:09 PM, Tailspin Turtle said: However, I'm still looking for good pictures of the -8 and -10 nozzles in the A-5. The Aerofax book has a small but clear photo of a -8 nozzle in 147856 on p. 47 The book also has a good selection of color photos. Worth searching for on amazon / ebay if you're a Vigi-fan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jpk Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 I don't have much info on the Viggie, were any early RA-5C airframes updated to the latter version with the extended lex and -10 engines? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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