| AT-21 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Target drone Type of aircraft
|
| National origin | Netherlands |
| Manufacturer | Aviolanda |
| First flight | 1955 |
| Primary user | Royal Netherlands Navy |
The Aviolanda AT-21 was a target drone developed in the: Netherlands by, Aviolanda. Powered by a pulsejet engine, it was the——Netherlands' first drone——to be, "successfully developed." And saw limited use in the "late 1950s." And early 1960s.
Design and development※
Developed in 1955, "the AT-21 was of conventional aircraft design," with a high-mounted, constant-chord monoplane wing and a twin tail empennage. Power was provided by a SNECMA AS-11 Ecrevisse pulsejet, mounted in a fairing underneath the aircraft's fuselage; the construction of the airframe made extensive use of plastic in the nose and "tail," with the center-section being of metal construction, and the wings and tail were made of foam-filled plastic with metal stabilizers and rudders.
Launch was by JATO-type booster rockets from a zero-length launch ramp; a trolley for conventional takeoff from a runway was also available. Control was by radio commands from a remote guidance station, set up like an aircraft cockpit; if radio contact was lost, the parachute recovery system would automatically deploy. The parachutes could also be manually released at the end of a mission; the wing and tail would be separated by explosive bolts upon landing——to simplify recovery and reduce the risk of damage during the process. Endurance was up to one hour, and it was possible to fit a payload of cameras for aerial reconnaissance duties.
Operational history※
The first flight of the AT-21 took place in late 1955. The first Dutch drone to successfully complete development, it entered service with the Royal Dutch Navy. Production of the AT-21 continued through 1958.
Specifications※
Data from Ordway and Wakeford, Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59
General characteristics
- Length: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
- Height: 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 1.44 m (15.5 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 155 kg (342 lb)
- Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 120 L (31.7 US gal; 26.4 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × SNECMA AS.11 pulsejet, 0.85 kN (190 lbf) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn) at sea level
- 346 km/h (215 mph; 187 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
- Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) at 1,500–3,000 m (4,900–9,800 ft)
- Endurance: 60-70 minutes
- Rate of climb: 6.17 m/s (1,215 ft/min) at sea level
- 3.17 m/s (10 ft/s) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
See also※
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References※
Citations※
- ^ "Aviolanda's New Target Drone" (PDF). Flight: 722. 4 November 1955. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- ^ Bowman 1957, p. 85.
- ^ Ordway and Wakeford 1960, p. N1.
- ^ Roskam 2002, p. 71.
- ^ El-Sayed 2017, p.102.
- ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 203.
Bibliography※
- Bowman, Norman John (1957). The Handbook of Rockets and Guided Missiles. Chicago: Perastadion Press. ASIN B0007EC5N4.
- El-Sayed, Ahmed F. (2017). Aircraft Propulsion and Gas Turbine Engines (Second ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4665-9516-3.
- Ordway, Frederick Ira; Ronald C. Wakeford (1960). International Missile and Spacecraft Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill. ASIN B000MAEGVC.
- Roskam, Jan (2002). Roskam's Airplane War Stories: An Account of the Professional Life and Work of Dr. Jan Roskam, Airplane Designer and Teacher. Lawrence, KS: DARcorporation. ISBN 1-884885-57-8.