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:William Engle Collection (via Tim Martin)
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".

This photo was added on 25 April 2024, and has since been viewed 459 times.


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