Radioplane OQ-6

In November 1944, Radioplane completed their model RP-14, which was evaluated by the USAAF as the OQ-6. The OQ-6 was more powerful than Radioplane's contemporary OQ-3, reaching a speed of 270 km/h (168 mph) with its 16 kW (22 hp) Righter O-45 four-cylinder engine. The model RP-15, first flown in January 1945 and most likely designated OQ-6A, had a 44 kW (60 hp) McCulloch O-90 engine, and could reach a speed of 313 km/h (195 mph).

Photo: Northrop

OQ-6

Production orders for the OQ-6 were cancelled at the end of World War II, but a few OQ-6s remained in the USAF in 1948 for use as experimental target drones. As such they were designated XOQ-6A.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for OQ-6, OQ-6A:

	OQ-6	OQ-6A
Length	3 m (10 ft)
Wingspan	4.3 m (14 ft)
Weight	134 kg (295 lb)	?
Speed	270 km/h (168 mph)	313 km/h (195 mph)
Propulsion	Righter O-45 piston engine; 16 kW (22 hp)	McCulloch O-90 piston engine; 44 kW (60 hp)

Main Sources

[1] Richard A. Botzum: "50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft", Northrop, 1985
[2] US Army Air Forces: "Army Aircraft Model Designations", 1946

Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1

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Last Updated: 18 March 2003