Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


Ryan Model 124 / BQM-34A Firebee
Role	Unmanned aerial vehicle / Aerial target
Manufacturer	Ryan Aeronautical
First flight	1951
Introduction	1952
Primary users	United States Air Force United States Navy United States Army Canadian Armed Forces
Developed into	Ryan Model 147

The Ryan Firebee is a series of target drones developed by the Ryan Aeronautical Company beginning in 1951. It was one of the first jet-propelled drones, and remains one of the most widely used target drones ever built.

The Firebee I was the result of a 1948 U.S. Air Force request and contract to Ryan for a jet-powered gunnery target. The first flight of the XQ-2 Firebee prototype took place in early 1951. The drone featured swept flight surfaces and a circular nose inlet. The initial models had distinctive "arrowhead" shaped endplates on the tailplane. The Firebee could be air-launched from a specially modified launch aircraft (Douglas A-26 Invader was first to be used for this purpose), or ground-launched with a single RATO booster

Development

BQM-34A production ended in 1982, but the production line was reopened in 1986 to produce more BQM-34S targets. Air Force and Navy Firebees have received further upgrades since that time, most refitted beginning in 1989 with the improved J85-GE-100 engine (also with 2,450 lbf (10.9 kN) thrust) as well as modernized avionics. In the late 1990s some Firebees were also fitted with GPS navigation receivers.

Following Successful Evaluation The Target Was Ordered Into Production For The USAF As The Q-2A, Powered By A Continental J69-T-19B Turbojet Engine With 1,060 Pounds-Force (4.7 KN) Of Thrust. The Air Force Then Obtained Small Numbers Of A Q-2B With A More Powerful Engine For High-Altitude Performance.

Ryan Aeronautical Company

Ryan Aeronautical Company
Ryan Firebee is a series of target drones

General Info

Crew: None
Length: 21 ft 11 in (6.68 m)
Wingspan: 12 ft 11 in (3.93 m)
Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.04 m)
Wing area: 36.0 sq ft (3.34 m²)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg) Gross weight: 2,060 lb (934 kg) Max takeoff weight: (1,134 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Continental J69-T-29A turbojet, 1,700 lbf thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 690 mph (1,110 km/h, 600 kn) at (2,000 m)
Cruise speed: 630 mph (1,010 km/h, 550 kn) at (15,000 m)
Stall speed: 116 mph (187 km/h, 101 kn)
Never exceed speed: 731 mph (1,176 km/h,) at (15,000 m)
Range: 796 mi (1,281 km,
Endurance: 75 min 30 s
Service ceiling: (18,000 m) +

Links to Youtube & Others

The Firebee target drone has proven successful and remains in operation with the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Firebees have also served with the Canadian Armed Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces, with Japanese Firebees built by Fuji Heavy Industries.

Ryan Firebee is a series of target drones

Five BQM-34-53 Extended Range Firebees were also used to lay chaff corridors during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Youtube Link

The drones were modernized by Northrop Grumman in a fast-response program earlier that year, being fitted with chaff dispensers and other improvements including GPS-based programmable waypoint guidance systems.

Ryan Aeronautical Company
Ryan Firebee target drones

Ryan Aeronautical
Ryan BQM-34A Firebee

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History Ryan Aeronautical Company.
Ryan BQM-34 Firebee is a series of target drones