These forerunners modern RPVs helped train WW II gunnery crews shoot down enemy aircraft Part twopart article U Hugh Maxwell THE ARMY called OQs Navy called TDDs Target Drone Denny either name proved highly effective antiaircraft training tools WW II antiaircraft gunnery crews loved Until men pretty much limited towed target sleeves practicing aim sleeves several drawbacks flew straight line didnt look like airplanes couldnt sure youd hit until someone reported color paint around bullet holes sleeve advent radio-controlled miniaturized target planes gunnery crews chance practice something RP-4 early twin-rail launcher 1939 USAF bought 53 target drones designated 00-1 still exist looked sounded acted like fullscale airplanes about one-third size one-third speed full-scale plane drone 200 yards distance approximated full-size pursuit plane 500 yards could simulate maneuvers attack conditions its larger counterpart forerunners modem RPVs scaled-down RC target planes offered some excitement combat obvious drawbacks gunnery crews could hardly wait get Watching drones 100-octane gas tank explode very satisfying shooting off wing watching drone spin made day worthwhile better hit July 1992 33 U RP-5A OQ-ZA OQ-ZB TDD-1 WING AREA 1924 SQ FT GROSS WEIGHT 108 LB MAXIMUM SPEED 74 ETS POWER PLANT Tppe 0-151 65-hp 2-cycle 2-cylinder gasoline engine 1942 first target drones produced Reginald Dennys Radioplane Corporation Unlike catapult-launched Navy versions called TDDs Army 00-2 version shown left equipped landing gear right Armys 00-3 came off production lines early 1944 Set target plane fire simul taneously opened parachute burning hulk floated gently down water pioneering genius behind remote-control aircraft industry America multitalented aviation enthusiast named Reginald Denny Though better known Hollywood movie star Denny born England 1891 also sportsman pilot aerial gunner Royal Flying Corps World War RC model enthusiast owned Hollywood model airplane shop addition performing silver screen Denny sang baritone traveling opera troupe Denny demonstrated first RC target drone RP-l US Army Fort McArthur California 1935 nine-foot high-wing balsa-and-plywood design fitted 2/2-hp engine spinning single two-bladed propeller Control marginal model crashed during demonstration followed 1938 RP-2 Built basswood little larger its predecessor traveled 50 mph RP-3 introduced year later featured welded-steel-tube fuselage recovery parachute flew 60 mph Only single example of first three prototypes built first prototype go production RP-4 Similar RP-3 upgraded 65-hp engine driving outrigger-type counterrotating propellers moved 70 mph RP-4 prototype completed November 1939 US Army purchased 53 drones designating OQ- 1 Meanwhile early 1930s Denny hired electronics engineer Kenneth Case help him develop ideas remotely controlled aircraft 1939 Denny founded Radioplane Company Two years earlier sponsored design competition model airplane engines Walter Righter 1928 graduate California Institute Technology submitted winning entry Between 1937 1945 Righter designed built thousands engines Radioplanes target drones Case Righter served Dennys key technical experts throughout Radioplanes early years 1952 company became Radioplane Division Northrop Aircraft Inc decade later renamed Ventura Division designation still known today Reginald Denny remained active Radioplane Company continued oversee model airplane shop until early 1950s returned native country died home village 34 Model Aviation OQ-3 WING AEEA 1924 SQIT GROSS WEIGHT 97L5 MAXIMUM SPEED 89KTh POWER PLANT Model 0-15-3 S-hp 2-cycle 2-cylinder gasoline engine deivinga 30-in doneter 2-bladed propeller oc5 22501541943 World War II T Wingspan Length overall Gross weight Maximum speed Rate climb Wing loading Power loading Fuel tank Flight duration First production Total produced Price per unit Wing Construction Chord Dihedral Incidence Wing area Engine Horsepower Weight Displacement Fuselage Propeller araet Drones 00-2 TDD-1 1467 1043 104 lb 85 mph 612 lb/sq ft 173 lb/hp 18 US gal 1 hr 10 mm June 1941 3865 Spruce ribs spars Fabric covered Ditferen 21 70 1924 sq ft Righter two-cylinder two-cycle 6 hp 3800 rpm 265 lb 169 cu Welded steel tubing Two concentrically shafted counterrotati twobladed 26-in wol Fifty 00-14 dronno osned io late May early J009 1945 wI Richmond June 16 1967 age of75 US Army Air Force actively supported Dennys efforts prove practicality target drone aircraft first Radioplane OQ-2 drones left production line building adjacent San Fernando Valley Airport June 1941 total 14891 drones produced Army Navy 1941 through 1945 accompanying chart details three designs Recovery system drones recovered parachute parachutes featured 24-ft-dia circular canopy standard design used 18-in circular vent rater standard puckered vent main parachute provided standard pilot chute 24 suspension lines shackled apex four riser cables fastened four points fuselage parachute packed metal tray canvas flaps mounted welded-steel-tube structure called parachute hatch hatch hinged fuselage top surface closed against spring-tension yoke Since rip cord attached fuselage opening hatch pulled cord released parachute An engine ignition switch activated off position parachute hatch opened hatch held 00-3 TDD-2 14625 109 97 lb 103 mph 5 lb/sq ft 121 lbihp 18 US gal 1 hr 10 mm Early 1944 5822 $900 approx 00-14 TDD-3 1375 111 134 lb 140 mph 3000 It/mm 74 lb/sq ft 61 lb/hp 35 US gal 1 hr April 1945* 5204 $692 average three contracts Plywood sheeting leading edges . colors top bottom pilot orientation 21 in21 60 150 181 sq ft Righter two-cylinder two-cycle 22 hp 4000 rpm 1924 sq ft Righter two-cylinder two-cycle 8 hp 3800 rpm 193 lb353 lb 169 cu in456 cu Fabric covered Triangular cross section Single twobladed 30-in wood Single twobladed 30-in wood . kamikaze attacks fleet continuing frightening rate shut electromagnetic relay armature long continuous signal received parachute channel Transmitter transmitter large heavy usually placed nearest convenient flat surface connected joystick control box cable long enough give pilot some freedom movement output carrier frequency 73 Mhz band plug-in crystals allowing several transmitters operate simultaneously same area transmitter received its power dynamotor unit turn driven gasoline generator Superimposed carrier five audio signals follows CommandFrequency Action Right Left Up Down Parachute 300 Hz 650 Hz 1390 Hz 3000 Hz 955 Hz Rudder Rudder Elevator Elevator Lack continuous tone caused release parachute after no proportional control Both rudder elevator moved less constant rate long appropriate signal received rudder returned neutral signal ceased Thus pilot learn trial error long signal let go elevator unlike rudder no automatic neutral locked position signal stopped Therefore important pilot set elevator properly before launchingand leave alone much possible pilot watched helplessly drone left catapult climbed stall flew straight ground full speed about two seconds because pilot forgot check position elevator Receiver high-gain superregenerative receiver nine vacuum tubes packaged aluminum box about eight inches side High humidity enemy circuits saltwater worse Pacific Ocean has plenty both high-humidity days anything could happenand often did continue believe receivers sold souls devil grew hate sight saltwater-soaked plane much took secretly wiring parachute hatch shut just before launching job Lt jg Art Kinney ever reads hell learn after 46 years times just couldnt seem get parachute hatch open Catapult Armys OQ-2 landing gear OQ-3 OQ-14 Navys TDDs later one-seconddrones launched 377-ft delaycatapult means electric shock cords driving carriage 700 lb thrust drone left carriage traveling about 65 mph later version catapult received along new TDD-3s contained coiled steel springs place shock cords Its thrust said 900 pounds remember being 30 ft long also 5-ft catapult heavy coil steel springs use small high-speed boats running wind strong headwinds necessary July1992 35 Reginald Denny pioneering genius behind WW II target drones th HP-i granddaddy model crashed being demonstrated Army 1935 30 SPECIALIST IN CUSTOM COX TEE DEE & REED ENGINES 020S 049S 051S 074S & 09S ALL CUSTOM & STOCK PARTS kBLE INDIVIDUALLY OLD TIMER SUPPLIES COILS CONDENSERS NGK & STIfF SPARK PLUGS SILK 8 COLORS QUALITY DOPE BRUSHES 5 & 7 LOOP 1/4 RUBBERBANDS TRANSISTOR IGNITION SYSTEMS RESISTOR HIGH TENSION LEADS 1/2A TEXACO PLAYBOY SR KIT 1/2A TEXACO ENGINES & PARTS KSB & IGNITION TIMERS RUBBER POWER KITS PROPS TISSUE AND OTHER SUPPLIES CYANOACRYLATES & EPOXIES ORDER BY MAIL OR PHONE 619 7284365 SORRY NO COD VISA & MASTERCARD WELCOME MINIMUM MERCHANDISE ORDER $1000 SHIPPING HANDLING AND INSURANCE PEE $350 STOCK ORDERS SHIPPED WITHIN 24 HRS drone would launched crash few feet front catapult Engine engines no throttle control carburetor needle valve adjusted maximum rpm just before launch thats way ranwide open time Some runs lasted over hour No wonder engines rated 50 hours Actually dont think ever survived two three hours operating manual warned against letting engine run over minute catapult Without movement engine couldnt get enough cooling air full throttle danger burning out Sometimes launched deadline approached ready steep dive wings level engine nasty habit stalling solution rock wings during dive Dont ask just worked Since drone no ailerons lost altitude banked After hed lost few models student pilot usually learned compensate conclusion next month Ill recount wartime experiences lead radio technician Navys TDD Unit 37 hottest World War II drones 00-14 Bullet flew 140 mph 22-hp engine Illustrations courtesy Northrop Corporation 36 Model Aviation OUR REV-UP INVENTORY AVERAGES OVER 9000 PROPS! PROMPT SHIPMENT ON VISA/MC MF[ON ACCESSORIES RACING WHEELS KLOTZ OIL CARBON FIBER SOLID LINES ALL KINDS OF TUBING THREE BRANDS OF GLOW PLUGS HARD-TO-FIND HARDWARE 00-2 drones coming together Radioplane Company assembly line 1941 Note two propellers concentric shafts parachute hatches partly open 1/5 scale $795 plus $3 plus $4 Civilians 1/3 narnstormer /4 WWII Navy /e /u scales ntlemen pilots name favoritor call name dealer nearest ordering direct include check money order MCNISA account number exp date Officirs Gentlumma 908 537-7323 Box 537 RD 2 Hampton NJ 08827
