Aircraft Photo of 41-39045 / 139045 | Fleetwings PQ-12A | USA - Air Force | AirHistory.net #680557
Aircraft
Registration / Serial:"41-39045"
Alternate Serial:139045
Aircraft Original Type:Fleetwings PQ-12
Aircraft Generic Type:Fleetwings PQ-12
Aircraft Version:Fleetwings PQ-12A
C/n (msn):[ 41-39049 ]
Operator Titles:USA - Air Force
Location
City / Airport:Edwards - AFBMap
Region / Country:California, United States
Airport Codes:ICAO: KEDW   IATA: EDW   Local: EDW   Other: -
 
Photo Date:1943
Photo from:AirHistory.net Contributed Photo Archive
Photo ID: 680557
Photo Comment

The Fleetwings Model 36 was a plywood skinned aerial target which was given the military designation PQ-12A. It was powered by a Lycoming O-435 of 225 hp and could be manually flown for testing & evaluation when designated as the YPQ-12A (background). The protrusion hanging down from the right hand wing housed a TV camera that fed images to a mother-ship for remote guidance to intercept an enemy aircraft. In October 1943 the aircraft successfully downed a test drone over the Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range by detonating a 500 lb bomb housed under the cockpit fairing. Note that the last two digits of the serial on the tail have been crudely changed from "49" to "45". Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

This photo was added on 25 April 2024, and has since been viewed 332 times.


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