Remote Piloted Aerial Vehicles - The Radioplane Target Drone

Walter H. Righter (1905 - 1982)

Radioplane Engines

Righter 2-S-17 / O-15-3

Offical testing by the Army found that the use of two counter rotating propellers had negligible effect on stability. A far simpler and cheaper to manufacture non-geared, single propeller version, 2-S-17 / O-15-3 was developed and used to power the next in line 'Radioplane' the OQ-3 (Navy TDD-2) itself a far better and more durable aircraft.

Righter O-15-3 nameplate

Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 2-S-17 / O-15-3

The sole photo of this engine had no attached details. It is presented here as most probably an early pre-production version of the 2-S-17 / O-15-3

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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Righter 2-S-17 / O-15-3

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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Righter 2-S-17 / O-15-3 - to be confirmed

see alternate views 1 | 2 | 3

A modified? Righter 2-S-17 / O-15-3

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Luca Mariotti notes: This appears to be a modified 2-S-17 / O-15-3. The carburettor is placed on top of the engine (not the usual Tillotson YC) ie., the same configuration as the O-45-1.

The image below shows an OQ-3 Drone with Ralph 'Woody' Woodhouse adjusting an 2-S-17 / O-15-3 engine (which resembles the above engine) which was probably a test model produced to solve the problem of safely making adjustments with the engine running just prior to launch. Eventually this engine could have been a testbed that lead to the O-45-1.

Ralph 'Woody' Woodhouse adjusts an O-15-3 engine

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 2-S-45 / O-45-1

2cyl; 2-S-45, Military O-45-1 & -3; 20hp@3800rpm to 35@4250; 1940-1945; Wt = 34#; TC = none.
Single-ignition engine. Also built by Kiekhaefer and Menasco engine companies.
AMC; AT3/71; Fahey USAAF; J45-46; MAN5/46.
Applications: (US) Frankfort OQ-3, OQ-14 Target Drones; Globe Target Drones; Radioplane OQ-3, OQ-14 Target Drones.
Ref: http://home.adelphia.net/~aeroengine/Righter.html

Righter 2-S-45 / O-45-1, Righter build

Photo: Luca Mariotti - Click Image to Enlarge

Luca Mariotti notes: This is a Righter built Type O-45-1, you can recognise it from the Menasco built engine by looking at the carburettor. The Menasco (see below), has the air inlet facing the front, the Righter (above) has the air inlet facing the rear

Righter 2-S-45 / O-45-1, Righter build

Diagram : Luca Mariotti - Click Image to Enlarge

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Righter 2-S-45 / O-45-1, Menasco build

Photo: Jim Dunkin - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 2-S-45 / O-45-1, Menasco build

Photo: Jim Dunkin - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 4-O-34A, Brochure p1

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 4-O-34A, Brochure p2

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 4-O-34A, Brochure p3

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 4-O-34A, Brochure p3, original image

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Righter 4-O-34A, Brochure p4

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Righter 4-O-34A, Brochure p4, detail (reversed for clarity)

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Propellers

Selection of Radioplane propellers

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Fran Righter comments : ...

32"; Made by U.S. Propellers Inc. Los Angeles, CA.; Used on OQ-3, Righter O-15-3 engine. Markings : red, white and blue logo - star in a circle.
36"; Made by Story; Used on OQ-3, Righter 4-O-34A engine. Markings : Logo - red, white and blue; tips - painted red 5 1/2" long; There were nine prototypes made.
32" Used on OQ-3, Righter O-15-3; Markings : nil
26" Used on ? Markings : yellow and red tips; 1" red - 1" yellow; total of 2" of paint on each end.

U.S. Propellers Inc.

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Story

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