rpav_header.jpg


The Radioplane Target Drone

RP-4 / OQ-1

Reginald Denny (1891-1967) and Walter H. Righter (1905 - 1982)


botzam_rp-4_350.jpg

RP-4 / OQ-1

Note the vertically opposed cylinders unlike the more common twin vertical cylinders as seen on the following images - right through to the three machines accepted by the US Army in May 1939

Photo: Botzum, Richard A., 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft, Northrop Corp., 1985

Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

In November 1939, the RP-4 prototype was completed. The US Army ordered 53 of these drones, giving them the designation of OQ-1. The USAAF supported Denny's efforts to prove the practicality of the target drone aircraft.

botzam_12_350.jpg

Radioplane RP-4 / OQ-1, engine detail

Photo: Botzum, Richard A., 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft, Northrop Corp., 1985

Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

botzam_12_d_350.jpg

Radioplane RP-4 / OQ-1, engine detail, close-up

Photo: Botzum, Richard A., 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft, Northrop Corp., 1985

Click Image to Enlarge

Luca Mariotti from Pisa, Italy, notes : "The twin propeller Radioplane is one of the 53, RP-4's (Army designation: OQ-1), produced for the Army and was the first totally succesfull target drone produced by Radioplane. The fuselage was built out of steel tubing, the wings of wood. The aircraft was fabric covered and usually launched from a crude rail launcher."

walt_sidewinder_01_250.jpg

Walt Righter holding the first twin vertical 'Sidewinder'

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

denny_muroc_1_350.jpg

The first three RP-4 / OQ-1 Radioplanes, Lake Muroc, 1939

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel [350Kb] or 2500 pixel [750Kb]image

whr_air_force_mag_feb73_250.jpg

RPV : It All Started Here

Airforce Magazine Feb., 1973

Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Muroc Dry Lake, Mojave Desert

February 21, 1939 the crew started from Burbank on a long trip to Muroc to test their latest drone. The drone was neatly covered with a tarpaulin and fastened down on top of the truck. They were almost to Palmdale when they discovered that the tarp moorings had parted and the tarp had been flapping in the wind beating the whole tail off the drone. The results were "hellish". They had to turn around and drive all the back to Burbank. The flight the next day at Muroc was a huge success!

muroc_crash_001_A_350.jpg

RP-4, Muroc Dry Lake

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

muroc_crash_001_B_350.jpg

RP-4, Muroc Dry Lake

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

muroc_crash_001_C_350.jpg

RP-4, Reg Denny and Al De lisle, Muroc Dry Lake

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

muroc_c_apl10_39_03_250.jpg

RP-4, Muroc Dry Lake, Apr.10, 1939

"Bulls-Eye !"

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

muroc_c_apl10_39_01_250.jpg

RP-4, Muroc Dry Lake, Apr.10, 1939

"OUCH !!"

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

muroc_c_apl10_39_02_350.jpg

RP-4, Muroc Dry Lake, Apr.10, 1939

"Another perfect landing - NOT !"

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

powl_delisle_den_apl39_350.jpg

RP-4, Muroc Dry Lake, Apr.10, 1939

"Anyone got a really BIG bottle of Glue ?"

Note: Rear of photo states L-R: Harold Powell, Al DeLisle and Reginald Denny

More likely it is L-R: Harold Powell, Al DeLisle and Walt Righter

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Download a 1500 pixel image

Continue on to part 3


RPAV Home | Reginald Denny - Walter Righter Home


HOME

© Copyright 1999-2006 CTIE - All Rights Reserved - Caution
Created and maintained by russell.naughton@eng.monash.edu.au
Last updated November 25, 2006