UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRCRAFT by Jos Heyman

Transcription

1 UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRCRAFT by Jos Heyman Air Force PQ = Aerial Target/Manned ( ) Between 1940 and June 1941, the A = Aerial Target designation was used for radio-controlled aircraft. As these designations could be easily confused with the A = Attack series, it was replaced by two new designations: OQ and PQ. Existing designations were redesignated in the appropriate new series with their series numbers unchanged. This affected only the Radioplane A-2 (becoming the OQ-2) and the Culver A-8 (becoming the PQ-8). The PQ series was then continued from PQ-8 and was effectively a continuation of the A series. Last update: 1 February 2015

2 PQ-1 Fleetwings span: 20', 6.10 m length: engines: 180 hp engine max. speed: 180 mph, 290 km/h The A-1 was an aerial gunnery target that was built around 1940 and was most likely no longer in use by mid There is no data available on the number built or their service career.

3 PQ-2 Radioplane RP-5 span: length: engines: max. speed: 12', 3.66 m 1 Righter 2-GS-17 / O-15-1 (Source: J. Shupek) The A-2 and A-2A versions are known. The latter were later redesignated as OQ-2A. Refer also to OQ-2

4 PQ-3 Curtiss 48 Fledgling span: 39'2", m length: 27'4", 8.33 m engines: 1 Wright R max. speed: 108 mph, 174 km/h (Source: Gene Palmer, via Aerofiles.com) During the 1930s the US Navy converted some obsolete N2C-2s as radio controlled target drones. In 1940 one of these was tested by the USAAF as A-3. Refer also to N2C

5 PQ-4 Douglas span: 40', m length: 31'2", 9.50 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R max. speed: 130 mph, 209 km/h (Source: USAF) In BT-2Bs and two BT-2BIs were fitted with tricycle gear and remote control equipment. They were initially designated as BT-2BR and BT-2BG but were eventually designated as A-4 aerial targets. By June 1941 they were no longer in the inventory. One reference source connects serials 31-01, 31-36, 31-39, 31-49, 31-56, 31-58, 31-60, 31-72, 31-76, 31-78, 31-91, 31-99, , , , and with the A-4 designation although some of these aircraft were written off before Refer also to O-2, BT-2

6 PQ-5 Boeing span: 30', 9.14 m length: 20'1", 6.12 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R max. speed: 171 mph, 275 km/h In 1940 it was proposed to convert P-12 airframes as A-5 aerial targets but the development was cancelled. Refer also to F-12

7 PQ-6 Douglas span: 40', m length: 31'3", 9.53 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R max. speed: 143 mph, 230 km/h In 1940 it was proposed to convert O-38 airframes as A-6 aerial targets but the development was cancelled. Refer also to O-38

8 PQ-7 Bell 6 Airacobra span: 34', m length: 30'2", 9.19 m engines: 1 Allison V max. speed: 368 mph, 592 km/h In 1940 it was proposed that all the YP-39s or P-39Cs, which were not considered combat ready lacking self-sealing fuel cells and adequate armor protection, be converted as A-7 aerial targets. None were converted. Refer also to F-39

9 PQ-8 Culver Cadet LAR-190 span: 27', 8.23 m length: 17'3", 5.26 m engines: 1 Franklin O max. speed: 116 mph, 187 km/h (Source: Dan Shumaker, via 1000aircraftphotos.com photo #7549) A Culver Cadet light aircraft was developed as A-8 aerial target with serial In July 1941 it was redesignated as XPQ-8. This was followed by 201 production PQ-8s with serials /19587, /38662 and The PQ-8A version was designated as A-8A until July They were fitted with a Lycoming O engine and 200 were built with serials / The suggestion that on 11 June 1948 those remaining in service were redesignated as Q-8A is incorrect. Refer also to Q-8, TDC

10 PQ-9 Culver NR-B span: length: engines: 1 Franklin O max. speed: 190 mph, 306 km/h (Source: via Flying Machines) The XPQ-9 was ordered in 1941 but subsequently cancelled. The PQ-9 production version was also cancelled. Flying Magazine of April 1946 (or October 1946) shows a heavily retouched photo of the XPQ-9. This indicates that it is possible that the aircraft was built but never accepted by the USAAF. Alternatively, the picture may be incorrect.

11 PQ-10 Culver MR span: 21, 6.40 m or 30, 9.14 m length: 16 7, 5.05 m engines: 2 Franklin O-300 max. speed: (Source: Culver?) One XPQ-10 was ordered with serial but was subsequently cancelled. The PQ-10 production version was also cancelled.

12 PQ-11 Fletcher span: 30, 9.14 m length: 23 3, 7.09 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-985 max. speed: 175 mph, 280 km/h (Source: USAAF?) Based on the model FBT-2, the XPQ-11 was cancelled. Ten PQ-11As were ordered with serial /46901 and were subsequently cancelled. The airframes were later used for the XBG-1 developement. Refer also to CQ-1, BG-1

13 PQ-12 Fleetwings 36 span: length: engines: max. speed: 1 Lycoming O (Source: William T. Larkins) One XPQ-12 was ordered with serial but was later cancelled. A single XPQ-12A was built with serial This was followed by the YPQ-12A of which 50 were ordered but only 8 were completed with serials / originally ordered as YPQ-12A were to be completed as PQ-12A with serials /39097 but these were cancelled. At least one of the YPQ-12As was expended in tests in October 1943.

14 PQ-13 Erco span: 30' 9.14 m length: 20'2", 6.15 m engines: 1 Franklin O-300 max. speed: 112 mph, 179 km/h (Source: USAF) A development of the Ercoupe 415C, the USAAF acquired two XPQ-13s. The first one (c/n 110) was purchased on 19 August 1941 with serial as one of two aircraft in the Aerial Target Competition which eventually was won by the Culver PQ- 14. In was restored with registration N A second aircraft was serialed Some reference sources have suggested that the XPQ-13 s were used in tests with JATO rockets with the first flight taking place on 12 July 1941, similar to those perfomed with the YO-55. Refer also to O-55

15 PQ-14 Culver NR-d span: 30', 9.14 m length: 19'6", 5.94 m engines: 1 Franklin O max. speed: 180 mph, 290 km/h (Source: nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/index.asp) A single PQ-8 was converted as the XPQ-14 prototype. 74 YPQ-14As were ordered but only one was built with serial The PQ-14A, to which the specifications apply, was the production version and 1423 were built with serial /44363, /44713, , /22519, /22585, /68738, /69654 and / Of these 1201 went to the US Navy as TD2C-1. Those remaining in USAF service on 11 June 1948 were redesignated as Q-14A. 25 YPQ-14Bs were ordered with serials , and /22608 but these were later redesignated as PQ-14B. In addition 1062 other PQ-14Bs were built with serials /44513, /219907, /68498 and / A batch with serials /69256 was cancelled. Those remaining in service on 11 June 1948 were redesignated as Q-14B whilst some may have been designated as TQ-14B. A single PQ-14B was fitted with a Franklin O and redesignated as XPQ-14C. Refer also to Q-14, TD2C

16 PQ-15 Culver V span: 30', 9.14 m length: 19'6", 5.94 m engines: 1 Franklin O-405 max. speed: (Source: via Flying Magazine) Four commercial Culver Vs (V for Victory) were in 1946/47 evaluated as XPQ-15. Two of the aircraft were transferred to the US Navy. Flying Magazine of October 1946 (or April 1946) shows a photo of the XPQ-15 which bears no similarities to the Culver V. This indicates that it is possible that the XPQ-15 was not related to the Culver V. Alternatively, the picture may be incorrect. Refer also to TD3C