Radioplane OQ-6

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.

OQ-6
Role Target drone
National origin United States
Manufacturer Radioplane Company
First flight November 1944
Primary user United States Army Air Forces

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 60 hp (45 kW) McCulloch O-90;[1] top speed 195 miles per hour (314 km/h).[2]
OQ-6A
USAAF designation of RP-15.[1]
XOQ-6A
USAF redesignation of surviving OQ-6s and OQ-6As.[1]

Specifications (OQ-6)

Data from Parsch 2003[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 10 ft (3.0 m)
  • Wingspan: 14 ft (4.3 m)
  • Gross weight: 295 lb (134 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Righter O-45 horizontally-opposed piston engine, 22 hp (16 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 168 mph (270 km/h, 146 kn)

See also

Related lists

References
Citations
  1. Parsch 2003
  2. Churchill 1946, p.114.
Bibliography
  • Churchill, Edward (March 1946). "Aerial Robots". Flying. Vol. 38 no. 3. Chicago: Ziff-Davis Publishing. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  • Parsch, Andreas (18 March 2003). "Radioplane OQ-6". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
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