Little-known Teledyne Ryan drones, RPVs and UAVs

[Boxman]

Here is a formerly "Secret" film, "Story of the 'H'" dating from 1967 concerning the Ryan Model 147H Firebee Lightning Bug that was posted yesterday (19-Dec-2016) by the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives on YouTube.

Some interesting aspects of the Model 147H that are briefly described in the film - the "Rivet Bounder" SA-2 guidance jammer (4 min 43 sec mark), HIDE (High-absorbency Integrated Defense against Electronic warfare) system consisting of (presumably) radar absorbing material/coatings in the 147H's intake duct and "air inlet nose duct fairing"(4 min 54 sec mark); and HEMP (147H Evasive Maneuver Program) which would enable the Model 147H to engage in programmed evasive maneuvers once it detected itself being painted by air-to-air fire control radars (5 min 45 sec mark). The film also features footage of the Hycon HR338A (KA-88A) camera (8 min 5 sec mark).

YouTube - San Diego Air & Space Museum - "F 2675 Ryan 147H Firebee Story"

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TbttRO6YD8

 

[dan_inbox]

SDASM have been uploading a lot recently. About 40 Flickr pages in the last few days.

Among those, several pictures of this UAV, Can you ID it ?

https://flic.kr/p/TaHjhG

View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/33584104744/in/dateposted/

(In spite of its looks, they probably didn't call it Vergeltungswaffe V-1.5)

 

[Michel Van]

SDASM label the picture as "RD-122-C"
Mabye the desigination of this UAV ?

 

[aim9xray]

No, it is more likely that this is the negative's file number. Other "RD-" prefixed images have been posted.

 

[flateric]

Well, we have grandpa of The Beast of Kandahar here

 

[flateric]

And what the hell was this?

 

[Grey Havoc]

And what the hell was this?

An unsolicited proposal for Senior Pine, perhaps?

 

[flateric]

...

 

[flateric]

...

 

[TomcatViP]

Nice collection.

RCS prediction?

 

[Boxman]

Here is a link to some interesting slides posted by the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives on Flickr regarding a proposed "High Altitude Firebee", Ryan Model 124D, that would utilize a Q-2C fuselage at its core and a Triethylaluminum Fueled ("TEA Fuel") augmenter. Link:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=highaltitudefirebee&user_id=49487266%40N07&view_all=1

Here are some samples of the slides:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/33582824123/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/34347064662/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/33722016403/

Also, there are about twenty photos of models of the proposed Ryan Model 329 Spirit in both manned and unmanned configurations. Here's a link to those photos:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=ryanmodel329&user_id=49487266%40N07&view_all=1

Here are a couple of model photos, one each of the manned and unmanned versions:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/34176816841/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/34269025036/

 

[Boxman]

Among the recent Ryan photos posted by the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) on Flickr are photos of Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction efforts for Firebee-family drones. Among them is the use of Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) "blankets" and mesh screens over the jet intake. Here are a couple photos. Larger resolution versions of these photos are available at the provided links above each.
"4-1779C - Q-2C with ram blankets, airborne on DC-130 pylon, lf side, 126 color transparency_3"
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/34247875916/

Here's what appears to be the same photo, color corrected, and captioned "Reflectivity Study".
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/34338428862/

Detail photo of another version of a mesh intake screen.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/33585746464/

 

[Silencer1]

New lection, dedicated to the history of Ryan RPV:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJbG-bZFLk0

by Barry Tyson, former Ryan' employee.

Covers the history of unmanned aerial systems, and connected subjects. 1 hour of feature-packed information.
Another story from Peninsula Seniors Video Productions (check another items in the Youtube' channel)
Enjoy!

 

[AeroFranz]

Good stuff, thanks!

 

[quellish]

Well, we have grandpa of The Beast of Kandahar here

I believe this is SANDY HOOK, Model 244. See here:

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/mcdonnell-teledyne-ryan-model-268-xst-ryans-stealth-uavs.7018/post-512966

 

[flateric]

And what the hell was this?

An unsolicited proposal for Senior Pine, perhaps?

One of Teledyne Ryan Tier II + studies.
Just like this flying wing design.

 

[Archibald]

I've randomly found a 1966 spooks note about Lightning Bugs ( = Ryan Model 147) - and a thing called WHITE EAGLE.
No idea whether it is a development of Model 147, or related to Model 154 COMPASS ARROW. In the latter case, the program started in June 1966 and was called LONE EAGLE.

 

[aim9xray]

I've randomly found a 1966 spooks note about Lightning Bugs ( = Ryan Model 147) - and a thing called WHITE EAGLE.
No idea whether it is a development of Model 147, or related to Model 154 COMPASS ARROW. In the latter case, the program started in June 1966 and was called LONE EAGLE.

This is the Ryan Model 154 pursuant to contract award. Alternate program names mentioned in "Fireflies...". Security was such that the name "Ryan" was not allowed to be used in correspondence with the customer and associate/sub contractors. Instead, the euphemism used was "WSC" (Weapon System Contractor). Such can be found liberally spread in range documentation from Holloman.

Flickr Link to SDASM, Map for Aircraft 5 Free Flight 9

Edit: Add link.