Fairchild SD-5 Osprey

The Fairchild SD-5 Osprey was an early high-speed reconnaissance drone developed by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Army. Intended for use by the U.S. Army Signal Corps to target tactical ballistic missiles, it was cancelled before the first prototype could be completed, and did not see operational service.

SD-5 Osprey
Role Reconnaissance drone
National origin United States
Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft
Primary user United States Army
Number built 15
Developed from Fairchild SM-73 Bull Goose

Design and development

In 1960 the U.S. Army issued a requirement for the development of a high-speed, long-range reconnaissance drone to provide targeting information to the Army's tactical ballistic missile force; contracts for competing designs were awarded to Republic Aviation, which proposed an all-new design given the designation SD-4 Swallow, and Fairchild Aircraft, which developed a variant of the Bull Goose decoy missile as the SD-5 Osprey.[1]

Given the full designation AN/USD-5 for its overall system,[2] the SD-5 was of tailless delta configuration,[3] with power provided by a Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet (the military version of the civilian JT12 engine);[4] a single rocket booster of the jet-assisted takeoff type, giving 40,000 lbf (180 kN) thrust for 3 seconds, allowed for zero length launch from a specially-designed trailer. Recovery following the mission was by parachute, with airbags used to cushion the landing; sensors including infrared scanners, side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) and optical mapping were available for use, and could be recovered following the mission, or transmitted during the mission via telemetry.[2] Guidance during the mission was provided by an inertial navigation system and autopilot.[1]

Operational history

The first flight of the SD-5 took place in May 1960;[2] fifteen prototypes were constructed for the test program, with Fairchild quoting a cost per drone of $350,000-$400,000 USD for production aircraft.[5] An operational date of 1964 was anticipated; however, due to the cost of the program, the SD-5 was cancelled in November 1962 before entering service.[2]

Specifications

Data from Parsch 2004[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m)
  • Wingspan: 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
  • Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • Gross weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet, 3,000 lbf (13 kN) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.7
  • Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (11,000 m)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Citations

  1. Newcome 2004, p.75.
  2. Parsch 2004
  3. Ordway and Wakeford 1960, p.USA51.
  4. Stanfield 1961, p.25.
  5. Aviation Week & Space Technology volume 73 (1960), p. 361.

Bibliography

  • Newcome, Lawrence R. (2004). Unmanned Aviation: A Brief History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-644-0.
  • Ordway, Frederick Ira; Ronald C. Wakeford (1960). International Missile and Spacecraft Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill. ASIN B000MAEGVC.
  • Parsch, Andreas (5 May 2004). "Republic SD-4 Swallow". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  • Stanfield, Robert I. (March 1961). "America's First Corporate Jet". Flying. Vol. 68, no. 3. New York: Ziff-Davis Publishing. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  • Taylor, John W.R. (1960). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1959–1960. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. ASIN B002G60XF8.
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