Culver XPQ-15

Last updated
XPQ-15/XTD3C
XPQ-15 mockup.jpg
Mockup of the XPQ-15
Role Target drone
National origin United States
Manufacturer Culver Aircraft Company
First flight1945
Primary users United States Army Air Forces
United States Navy
Produced6

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.

Contents

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]

Performance

Related Research Articles

AUM-N-2 Petrel Anti-ship missile

The AUM-N-2 Petrel, also known as Kingfisher C and AUM-2, was an air-to-surface missile produced as part of Project Kingfisher for the United States Navy. Intended for use against enemy surface ships and surfaced submarines, giving aircraft the ability to deliver aerial torpedoes from outside the range of defensive armament, it saw brief operational service in the late 1950s. The project was never considered a high priority by the Navy however, as it was useless against submerged submarines, which were considered the greatest potential threat.

Franklin O-200

The Franklin O-200 was an American air-cooled aircraft engine of the early 1940s. The engine was of four-cylinder, horizontally-opposed layout and displaced 200 cu in (3 L). The power output ranged between 65 hp (48 kW) and 100 hp (75 kW) depending on variant. The O-200-5 (4ACG-199) featured a geared propeller drive.

The Culver Cadet is an American two-seat light monoplane aircraft, also once a radio-controlled drone, produced by the Culver Aircraft Company.

Project Gorgon missile / test vehicle / target drone

The Gorgon missile family was a series of experimental air-to-air, air-to-surface, and surface-to-surface missiles developed by the United States Navy's Naval Aircraft Modification Unit between 1943 and 1953. The immaturity of the technology involved meant that none of the Gorgon missiles achieved operational service, however they were extensively used in the development of guided missile controls and guidance technologies.

Project Kingfisher Anti-ship missiles

Project Kingfisher was a weapons-development program initiated by the United States Navy during the latter part of World War II. Intended to provide aircraft and surface ships with the ability to deliver torpedoes to targets from outside the range of defensive armament, six different missile concepts were developed; four were selected for full development programs, but only one reached operational service.

The Fletcher FBT-2 was a military trainer aircraft built in the United States in the early 1940s. Although it was never entered production as a trainer, it was ordered in small numbers as a target drone but when that was cancelled played a small part in the development of guided bombs.

Interstate XBDR

The Interstate XBDR was a design for an assault drone - an early television-guided missile - powered by two jet engines, that was designed by the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation during the latter stages of the Second World War for use by the United States Navy. Wind tunnel tests of a scale model were conducted, however no full-scale examples of the aircraft were built before the project was cancelled.

Interstate TDR UCAV created in 1944, used by the US Navy

The Interstate TDR was an early unmanned combat aerial vehicle — referred to at the time as an "assault drone" — developed by the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation during the Second World War for use by the United States Navy. Capable of being armed with bombs or torpedoes, 2000 aircraft were ordered, but only around 200 were built. The type saw some service in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese, but continuing developmental issues affecting the aircraft, along with the success of operations using more conventional weapons, led to the decision being made to cancel the assault drone program in October 1944.

Naval Aircraft Factory TDN

The Naval Aircraft Factory TDN was an early unmanned combat aerial vehicle - referred to at the time as an "assault drone" - developed by the United States Navy's Naval Aircraft Factory during the Second World War. Developed and tested during 1942 and 1943, the design proved moderately successful, but development of improved drones saw the TDN-1 relegated to second-line duties, and none were used in operational service.

Fleetwings BQ-1

The Fleetwings BQ-1 was an early expendable unmanned aerial vehicle — referred to at the time as an "assault drone" — developed by Fleetwings during the Second World War for use by the United States Army Air Forces. Only a single example of the type was built, the program being cancelled following the crash of the prototype on its first flight.

The Franklin O-405 was an American air-cooled aircraft engine of the 1940s. The engine was of six-cylinder, horizontally-opposed layout and displaced 405 cu in (6.64 L). The power output was between 200 hp (149 kW) and 250 hp (186 kW) depending on variant. The O-405-9 (6ACV-403) was a vertically mounted, fan cooled version for helicopters.

The Globe KDG Snipe was an American target drone, built by the Globe Aircraft Corporation for use by the United States Navy. The KDG, and its modified version, the KD3G Snipe, served between 1946 and the early 1950s.

Globe KD4G Quail

The Globe KD4G Quail was an American target drone, built by the Globe Aircraft Corporation for use by the United States Navy.

Culver PQ-10

The Culver PQ-10 was an American target drone, designed by the Culver Aircraft Company for use by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1941, the project was cancelled before any aircraft flew.

The Frankfort OQ-16, also known as the TD3D, was a target drone designed by the Frankfort Sailplane Company for use by the United States Army Air Forces and United States Navy.

The AQM-128 was a short-lived program undertaken by the United States Navy for the development of a subscale target drone, launched from aircraft and capable of supersonic speed. The AQM-128 was intended to use pre-programmed guidance.

Radioplane OQ-17

The Radioplane OQ-17 was a target drone produced by the Radioplane Company for the United States Army Air Forces and, as the TD4D/KDR Quail, the United States Navy. Suffering from an unreliable engine, the OQ-17 production run was cut short in favor of the OQ-19.

Republic SD-3 Snooper

The Republic SD-3 Snooper was an early reconnaissance drone developed by Republic Aviation for the United States Army. It was evaluated by the Army Signal Corps in 1959, but did not enter operational service.

The Radioplane OQ-6 was a target drone developed by the Radioplane Company under the designation RP-14 and evaluated by the United States Army Air Forces for service use. A small number were procured, but major production contracts were cancelled by the end of World War II.

Pelican (bomb) Guided bomb

The Pelican, also known as Bomb Mark 55 and, in one version, SWOD Mark 7, was a guided bomb developed by the United States Navy during World War II. Guided by semi-active radar homing, Pelican was produced in 1,000 lb (450 kg) and 1,500 lb (680 kg) sizes; the program reached the stage of live trials before being cancelled.

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 Parsch 2009
  2. Mingos 1946, p.318.
  3. Grossnick and Armstrong 1997, p.540.
Bibliography