Fleetwings BQ-1
{{Short description|1940s American unmanned aerial vehicle}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = XBQ-1 |image = Fleetwings XBQ-1.jpg |size = 300px |alt = |caption = |long caption = }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type = Flying bomb |national origin = United States |manufacturer = Fleetwings |designer = |design group = |first flight = May 1944 |introduced = |introdction = |retired = |status = |primary user = United States Army Air Forces |more users = |produced = |number built = 1 |program cost = |unit cost = |developed from = |variants with their own articles = Fleetwings BQ-2 |developed into = }} |
The Fleetwings BQ-1 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 program being cancelled following the crash of the prototype on a test flight.
Development
Development of the BQ-1 began on 10 July 1942, under a program for the development of "aerial torpedoes" – unmanned aircraft carrying internal bombs – that had been instigated in March of that year. Fleetwings was contracted to build a single XBQ-1 assault drone,Werrell 1985, p.30. powered by two Franklin O-405-7 opposed piston engines, and fitted with a fixed landing gear in tricycle configuration. The aircraft was optionally piloted; a single-seat cockpit was installed for ferry and training flights; a fairing would replace the cockpit canopy on operational missions.Parsch 2005 The BQ-1 was intended to carry a {{convert|2000|lb}} warhead over a range of {{convert|1717|mi}} at {{convert|225|mph}}; the aircraft would be destroyed in the act of striking the target. A single BQ-2 was to be constructed as well under the same contract.
Flight testing
Following trials of the television-based command guidance system using a PQ-12 target drone, and earlier trials of the XBQ-2A, the XBQ-1 flew in May 1944; however, the aircraft crashed on 17 July 1944 due to engine failure just after take-off from Wright Field. Following the loss of the lone prototype BQ-1, the project was cancelled.
Specifications (XBQ-1)
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|gross weight lb=7700
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|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Franklin O-405-7
|eng1 type=opposed piston engines
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|eng1 hp=225
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|cruise speed mph=225
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|armament=* {{convert|2000|lb}} warhead
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See also
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References
{{commons category|Fleetwings BQ-1}}
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/bq-1.html |title= Fleetwings BQ-1/2 |first=Andreas |last=Parsch |year=2005 |work=Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones |publisher=designation-systems.net |access-date=22 January 2013}}
- {{cite book|last=Werrell|first=Kenneth P.|title=The Evolution of the Cruise Missile|year=1985|publisher=Air University Press|location=Maxwell AFB, Alabama|isbn=978-1478363057}}
{{refend}}
{{Fleetwings aircraft}}
{{US unmanned aircraft}}
Category:1940s United States bomber aircraft
Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States
Category:World War II guided missiles of the United States
Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1944