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The Fleetwings BQ-2 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 aircraft was deemed too expensive for service and was cancelled after a brief flight testing career.
| XBQ-2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Flying bomb |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Fleetwings |
| First flight | 1943 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Forces |
| Number built | 1 |
| Variants | Fleetwings BQ-1 |
Development
Development of the BQ-2 began on July 10, 1942, under a program for the development of "aerial torpedoes" – unmanned flying bombs – that had been instigated in March of that year. Fleetwings was contracted to build a single XBQ-2 assault drone,[1] powered by two Lycoming XO-435 horizontally opposed piston engines, and fitted with a fixed landing gear in tricycle configuration;[2] the landing gear was jettisonable for better aerodynamics.[1]
The BQ-2 was optionally piloted; a single-seat cockpit was installed for ferry and training flights; a fairing would replace the cockpit canopy on operational missions.[2] The BQ-2 was intended to carry a 2,000 pounds (910 kg) warhead over a range of 1,717 miles (2,763 km) at 225 miles per hour (362 km/h); the aircraft would be destroyed in the act of striking the target.[1] A single BQ-1 was to be constructed as well under the same contract.[1]
Flight testing
The XO-435 engines were dropped from the design of the XBQ-2 before completion, being replaced by two Lycoming R-680 radial engines, with the aircraft being redesignated XBQ-2A.[3]
Following trials of the television-based command guidance system using a PQ-12 target drone, the XBQ-2A flew in mid 1943; following flight trials, the design was determined to be too expensive for operational use, and the program was cancelled in December of that year.[2]
Specifications (XBQ-2A)
Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (optional)
- Wingspan: 48 ft 7 in (14.81 m)
- Gross weight: 7,700 lb (3,493 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming R-680-13 radial piston engines, 280 hp (210 kW) each
Armament
- 2,000 pounds (910 kg) warhead
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- Notes
- Werrell 1985, p.30.
- Parsch 2005
- Andrade 1979, p.60.
- Bibliography
- Andrade, John (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Parsch, Andreas (2005). "Fleetwings BQ-1/2". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. designation-systems.net. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- Werrell, Kenneth P. (1985). The Evolution of the Cruise Missile. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air University Press. ISBN 978-1478363057.
На других языках
- [en] Fleetwings BQ-2
[fr] Fleetwings BQ-2
Le Fleetwings BQ-2 était un aéronef sans pilote « jetable » — décrit à l'époque comme un « drone d'assaut » —, développé pour les United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) par la société américaine Fleetwings (en) pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Seul un exemplaire de ce modèle fut produit. L'appareil fut ensuite considéré comme étant trop cher pour être utilisé en service régulier et le projet fut annulé après une brève période d'essais en vol.Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.
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