| OQ-17 KDD Quail | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Target drone |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Radioplane Company |
| Designer | Reginald Denny |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces United States Navy |
| Number built | 430 |
| Developed into | Radioplane OQ-19 |
The Radioplane OQ-17 was a target drone produced by the Radioplane Company for the United States Army Air Forces and, as the TD4D/KDR Quail, the United States Navy. Suffering from an unreliable engine, the OQ-17 production run was cut short in favor of the OQ-19.
As the end of World War II approached, the U.S. Army Air Forces issued a requirement for a new target drone to replace the Radioplane OQ-2 family of drones, with higher performance to better simulate the improved capabilities of combat aircraft.[1] The RP-18, designed by Radioplane's Reginald Denny in response,[2] was of all-metal construction, with a high-mounted wing and conventional empennage. Power was supplied by a Righter O-45 four-cylinder horizontially-opposed engine, and launch was via catapult.[1] Control was maintained through conventional radio control, while if the drone was not shot down by the gunners using it for training, it could be recovered via an onboard parachute.[3] It was claimed that the OQ-17 could perform any maneuver that an ordinary fighter aircraft could.[3]
Evaluation of the RP-18 began in March 1945; following trials, the U.S. Army Air Forces ordered the drone into production in February 1946, designating it OQ-17. The U.S. Navy also ordered the drone; it had been evaluated as the XTD4D-1, but before entering service the production TD4D-1 was given the new designation of KDR-1 Quail.[1]
Production of the OQ-17 and KDR was terminated after 430 aircraft had been completed, as persistent reliability issues with the O-45 engine could not be overcome; the Radioplane OQ-19 was ordered as a replacement.[1]
Data from Parsch 2003[1]
General characteristics
Performance