Culver XPQ-15

XPQ-15/XTD3C
Mockup of the XPQ-15
Role	Target drone
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Culver Aircraft Company
First flight	1945
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces United States Navy
Produced	6

The Culver XPQ-15, also known as the XTD3C-1, was an American target drone developed by the Culver Aircraft Company late in World War II.

Design and development

The XPQ-15 was a low-wing monoplane of conventional design. It was powered by a Franklin O-405 opposed piston engine. ^[1] Design work began in 1943. ^[2]

Operational history

Four examples of the XPQ-15 were built for evaluation by the United States Army Air Forces in 1945; two additional aircraft were tested by the United States Navy as the XTD3C-1. No production contract was placed. ^[1]

Variants

XPQ-15

USAAF variant; four produced. ^[1]

XTD3C-1

USN variant; two produced, BuNos 29665-29666. ^[3]

Specifications (XPQ-15)

Data from Parsch ^[1]

• Powerplant: 1 × Franklin O-405 opposed piston engine, 200 hp (150 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)

References

Citations

1. Parsch 2009
2. Mingos 1946, p.318.
3. Grossnick and Armstrong 1997, p.540.

Bibliography

• Grossnick, Roy A.; William J. Armstrong (1997). United States Naval Aviation, 1910–1995 (PDF). Annapolis, MD: Naval Historical Center. ISBN   0-16-049124-X. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2000. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
• Mingos, Howard (1946). The Aircraft Year Book for 1946. New York: Lanciar Publishers. ASIN   B000IDB7CE . Retrieved 2013-02-15.
• Parsch, Andreas (2009). "PQ Series". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2011-02-15.

External links

• Photo of XPQ-15 model in Popular Science