RPV Airborne Launch, Control and Recovery System

[Mark Nankivil]

Good Day All -

During my recent visit to the Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Museum, Marshall Smith showed me a proposal from Lockheed-Georgia's New Missions Dept. Dated August, 1974, the proposal was for the launch and recover in mid-air Teledyne Ryan Firebees both for the tactical strike and strategic reconnaisance missions. The proposal outlined testing phases followed by use of the C-141 and/or C-130 to fulfill the mission. Attached are drawings from the proposal that show the game plan. Interesting "could have been"....

Thanks to Marshall and the AUVM for allowing this to be shared!

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[AeroFranz]

awesome post, thank you!

 

[isayyo2]

Super neat!

 

[hercules130]

Great post thanks so much for sharing.

G

 

[Grey Havoc]

I think the Air Force also subsequently looked at using it on the Boeing 747.