- Source: Naval Aircraft Factory TDN
The Naval Aircraft Factory TDN was an early unmanned combat aerial vehicle - referred to at the time as an "assault drone" - developed by the United States Navy's Naval Aircraft Factory during the Second World War. Developed and tested during 1942 and 1943, the design proved moderately successful, but development of improved drones saw the TDN-1 relegated to second-line duties, and none were used in operational service.
Design and development
The development of the radar altimeter and television in the early 1940s made remotely guided bomb- or torpedo-carrying aircraft a practical proposition. In January 1942, the Naval Aircraft Factory was instructed to initiate the development of such an aircraft, with a go-ahead for prototype construction being given in February. A production contract for 100 aircraft was issued in March, with John S. Kean being assigned as TDN-1 project manager, with the aircraft being designed to be capable of using either television or radar guidance. Constructed mainly from wood, the TDN-1 had a fixed tricycle landing gear, and could be fitted with a conventional cockpit in place of its guidance equipment for test flights.
In an example of the use of companies traditionally uninvolved in the aviation industry to reduce interference with higher priority projects, production of the final thirty aircraft was licensed to the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, a Michigan-based manufacturer of bowling balls and billiard tables.
Operational history
One hundred production TDN-1 aircraft were ordered in March 1942. Despite being specifically designed to be a simple, low-performance aircraft, and despite proving promising in testing, the type was considered to be too complicated and expensive for use operationally. The improved Interstate TDR was selected for development as an alternative, the majority of TDN-1s being used in the test, liaison and training roles, with some being expended as aerial targets. The TDN-1 is often credited as the first US drone to take off from an aircraft carrier freely (USS Sable). An Airspeed Queen Wasp had already been catapulted from HMS Pegasus in 1937.
Variants and operators
United States Navy
XTDN-1
Four prototype aircraft powered by Franklin O-300 engines.
TDN-1
Production version of XTDN-1; 100 aircraft produced.
Specifications (TDN-1)
Data from General characteristics
Crew: 0-1 (optional pilot)
Length: 37 ft (11 m)
Wingspan: 48 ft (15 m)
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming O-435-2 horizontally-opposed six-cylinder piston engines, 220 hp (160 kW) each
Cruise speed: 145 mph (233 km/h, 126 kn)
Armament
one 2,000-pound (910 kg) bomb or aerial torpedo.
See also
History of unmanned aerial vehicles
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Gorgon (U.S. missile)
Interstate TDR
LTV-N-2 Loon
McDonnell LBD Gargoyle
Related lists
List of unmanned aerial vehicles
List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
References
= Citations
== Bibliography
=Further reading
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Naval Aircraft Factory TDN
- Naval Aircraft Factory
- Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
- Naval Aircraft Factory PN
- TDN
- Naval Aircraft Factory TS
- List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
- List of aircraft of the United States during World War II
- Naval Aircraft Factory TG
- Naval Aircraft Factory SBN
- 1
- 2
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Action, Bioskop Online, bioskop21, BioskopKeren, Cinemaindo, Dewanonton, Drakor ID, DrakorIndo, Ganool, gudangmovie, gudangmovie21, Horror, IndoXX1, Indoxxi, KorDramas, LayarKaca21, Layarkaca21 INDOXXI, LK21, LK21 XXI, Pahe.in, PusatFilm21, Science Fiction, Japan
Takashi Yamazaki
About Time (2013)
Bioskop Online, BioskopKeren, Cinemaindo, Dewanonton, Drakor ID, DrakorIndo, Drama, DramaQu, Dunia21, DutaFilm, Fantasy, Ganool, gudangmovie, IndoXX1, Indoxxi, KorDramas, LayarKaca21, Layarkaca21 INDOXXI, LK21, LK21 XXI, Nonton drama, Nonton Movie, Pahe.in, PusatFilm21, Romance, United Kingdom, USA
Richard Curtis
The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973)
Bioskop Online, BioskopKeren, Cinemaindo, Comedy, Dewanonton, Drakor ID, DrakorIndo, DramaQu, Dunia21, DutaFilm, Ganool, gudangmovie, IndoXX1, Indoxxi, KorDramas, LayarKaca21, Layarkaca21 INDOXXI, LK21, LK21 XXI, Nonton drama, Nonton Movie, Pahe.in, PusatFilm21, France, Italy
Gérard Oury
No More Posts Available.
No more pages to load.
