
Aircraft | |
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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 | |
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City / Airport: | Edwards - AFBMap |
Region / Country: | California, United States |
Airport Codes: | ICAO: KEDW IATA: EDW Local: EDW Other: - |
Photo Date: | 1943 |
Photo from: | William Engle Collection (via Tim Martin) |
Photo ID: | 680557 |
Photo Comment |
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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". This photo was added on 25 April 2024, and has since been viewed 515 times. |