Radioplane OQ-6 explained
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.
Design and development
The Radioplane RP-14 was a small aircraft of conventional design, with a strut-braced monoplane wing and conventional empennage; power was from a Righter O-45 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine. An improved version, the RP-15, replaced the O-45 with a McCulloch O-90. The airframe was improved over the company's preceding OQ-3, with improved streamlining.[1]
Operational history
The RP-14 first flew in November 1944; designated OQ-6 by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), evaluation led to the development of the improved RP-15, designated OQ-6A, and orders for production of the aircraft in quantity were placed. These orders were cancelled due to the end of World War II; however, some OQ-6s, redesignated XOQ-6A, were still in service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948.[1]
Variants and operators
- RP-14
Initial version powered by Righter O-45[1]
- OQ-6
USAAF designation of RP-14.[1]
- RP-15
Improved version of RP-14 with 60hp McCulloch O-90;[1] top speed .[2]
- OQ-6A
USAAF designation of RP-15.[1]
- XOQ-6A
USAF redesignation of surviving OQ-6s and OQ-6As.[1] References
- Citations
Bibliography
- Churchill. Edward. March 1946. Aerial Robots. Flying. Chicago. Ziff-Davis Publishing. 38. 3. 2017-12-11.
- Web site: Radioplane OQ-6. Parsch. Andreas. 18 March 2003. Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. Designation-Systems. 2017-12-11.
Notes and References
- Parsch 2003
- Churchill 1946, p.114.
