Years In Service: 1952-Present
Initial Flight: 1951
The Ryan BQM, or the Firebee, is a jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or remotely controlled drone dating back to the late 1940s. The primary mission of the Firebee is the testing of newly developed missiles to simulate tactical threats by enemy aircraft. It was also utilized for air-to-air combat defense readiness training of fighter-interceptor pilots and the development and evaluation of weapons systems for aerial target training.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 6′ 7″ Wingspan: 12′ 11″ Length: 22′ 11″ Thrust: 1,700 lbs. Powerplant: Continental J69-T-29 No. of Engines: 1 Max Speed: 580 mph Ceiling: 51,300 ft.