GTD-21
DRONE
| The Lockheed D-21 (Project
Tagboard) was an unmanned or "drone" aircraft designed to carry out high-speed,
high-altitude strategic reconnaissance missions over hostile territory.
It is a product of the Lockheed "Skunk Works" program that developed the
A-12, YF-12, and SR-71 "Blackbird" manned aircraft in the 1960's. The D-21
ramjet-powered reconnaissance drone was powered by a Marquardt RJ-43-MA-11
ramjet. Cruising at Mach 3.3 at an altitude of 90,000 feet, the D-21 had
a range of over 3400 nautical miles. The D-21 was guided by an inertial
navigation system on a pre-programmed flight profile.
Originally, the D-21 was
designed to be launched from the back of a modified A-12 (redesignated
M-12) carrier aircraft. The first flight of the D-21/M-12 combination took
place on December 22, 1964, but the first D-21 release from an M-12 did
not occur until March 5, 1966. two more launches were successful, but on
July 30, 1966, a D-21 collided with the M-12 after release, destroying
both aircraft and resulting in the death of one of the M-12's crew members.
No further "piggyback" launches were attempted. |
|
|
A new launch system was
developed using modified B-52H aircraft as carriers. The new D-21 configuration
(designated D-21B) had dorsal mounting hooks for carriage under the B-52's
wing, and a solid rocket booster for the initial acceleration required
to start the ramjet engine. The first launch from a B-52 took place on
November 6, 1967, but the D-21 crashed. Several flights followed in 1968
with mixed success.
The first operational launch
was on November 9, 1969, but the D-21B was lost. Several successful operational
missions were flown over the next two years, but the D-21 program was highly
classified and details have not been released. The program was canceled
in 1971 and the D-21s were placed in storage. |
Display is
Access Restricted
| SPECIFICATIONS |
|
| Span: |
19 ft (5.8 m) |
| Length: |
42 ft 10 in (13.06 m) |
| Height: |
7 ft 0.25 in (2.14 m) |
| Weight: |
11,000 lb (5,000 kg) |
| Armament: |
None |
| Engines: |
1 - Marquardt RJ43-MA-20-B4
Ramjet |
| Crew: |
None |
| Cost: |
|
| Tail Number: |
|
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| PERFORMANCE |
|
| Maximum Speed: |
2,700 mph / 2,300 kt (4,300
km/h) |
| Range: |
> 3,450 mi / 3,000 nmi (>
5,550 km) |
| Service Ceiling: |
95,000 ft (29,000 meters) |
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