Interstate TDR

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_TDR

The Interstate TDR was an early unmanned combat aerial vehicle — referred to at
the time as an "assault drone" — developed by the Interstate Aircraft and
Engineering Corporation during the Second World War for use by the United States
Navy. Capable of being armed with bombs or torpedoes, 2000 aircraft were
ordered, but only around 200 were built. The type saw some service in the
Pacific Theater against the Japanese, but continuing developmental issues
affecting the aircraft, along with the success of operations using more
conventional weapons, led to the decision being made to cancel the assault drone
program in October 1944.

In 1936, Lieutenant Commander Delmar S. Fahrney proposed that unpiloted,
remotely controlled aircraft had potential for use by the United States Navy in
combat operations. Due to the limitations of the technology of the time,
development of the "assault drone" project was given a low priority, but by the
early 1940s the development of the radar altimeter and television made the
project more feasible, and following trials using converted manned aircraft, the
first operational test of a drone against a naval target was conducted in April
1942. That same month, following trials of the Naval Aircraft Factory TDN
assault drone, Interstate Aircraft received a contract from the Navy for two
prototype and 100 production aircraft to a simplified and improved design, to be
designated TDR-1.

Control of the TDR-1 would be conducted from either a control aircraft, usually
a Grumman TBF Avenger, with the operator viewing a tv screen showing the view
from a camera mounted aboard the drone along with the radar altimeter's readout,
or via a pilot on board the TDR-1 for test flights. Powered by two Lycoming
O-435 engines of 220 horsepower (160 kW) each, the TDR-1 used a remarkably
simple design, with a steel-tube frame constructed by the Schwinn bicycle
company covered with a molded wood skin, thus making little use of strategic
materials so as not to impede production of higher priority aircraft. Capable of
being optionally piloted for test flights, an aerodynamic fairing was used to
cover the cockpit area during operational missions. The TDR-1 was equipped with
a fixed tricycle landing gear that would be jettisoned in operation after
takeoff for improved performance. The TDR-1s were manufactured by the Wurlitzer
Company.


Role
assault drone

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Interstate Aircraft

First flight
1942

Introduction
September 1944

Retired
October 1944

Primary user
United States Navy

Number built
195

Under the code-name Operation Option, the Navy projected that up to 18 squadrons
of assault drones would be formed, with 162 Grumman TBF Avenger control aircraft
and 1000 assault drones being ordered. However technical difficulties in the
development of the TDR-1, combined with a continued low priority given to the
project, saw the contract modified with the order reduced to only around 300
aircraft. A single TDR-1 was tested by the U.S. Army Air Forces as the XBQ-4,
however no production contract resulted from this testing.

In 1944, under the control of the Special Air Task Force (SATFOR), the TDR-1 was
deployed operationally to the South Pacific for operations against the Japanese.
TDR-1 aircraft equipped a single mixed squadron (Special Air Task Group 1) along
with TBM Avenger control aircraft, and the first operational mission took place
on September 27, conducting bombing operations against Japanese ships. Despite
this success, the assault drone program had already been canceled after the
production of 189 TDR-1 aircraft, due to a combination of continued technical
problems, the aircraft failing to live up to expectations, and the fact that
more conventional weaponry was proving adequate for the defeat of Japan. The
final mission was flown on October 27, with 50 drones having been expended on
operations, 31 aircraft successfully striking their targets, without loss to the
pilots of STAG-1.

Following the war, some TDR-1s were converted for operation as private
sportsplanes.

Specifications (TDR-1)

General characteristics
Crew: 0–1 (optional pilot)
Wingspan: 48 ft (15 m)
Gross weight: 5,900 lb (2,676 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming O-435-2 opposed piston engines, 220 hp (160 kW) each

Performance
Cruise speed: 140 mph (225 km/h; 122 kn)
Range: 425 mi (369 nmi; 684 km)

Armament

One 2,000-pound (910 kg) bomb or one aerial torpedo




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