AT-21 | |
---|---|
Role | Target drone |
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.
Developed in 1955, [1] the AT-21 was of conventional aircraft design, [2] 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. [1]
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. [1] Endurance was up to one hour, and it was possible to fit a payload of cameras for aerial reconnaissance duties. [3]
The first flight of the AT-21 took place in late 1955. [1] The first Dutch drone to successfully complete development, [3] it entered service with the Royal Dutch Navy. [4] Production of the AT-21 continued through 1958. [5]
Data from Ordway and Wakeford, [3] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 [6]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
AT-21 | |
---|---|
Role | Target drone |
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.
Developed in 1955, [1] the AT-21 was of conventional aircraft design, [2] 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. [1]
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. [1] Endurance was up to one hour, and it was possible to fit a payload of cameras for aerial reconnaissance duties. [3]
The first flight of the AT-21 took place in late 1955. [1] The first Dutch drone to successfully complete development, [3] it entered service with the Royal Dutch Navy. [4] Production of the AT-21 continued through 1958. [5]
Data from Ordway and Wakeford, [3] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 [6]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists