Culver PQ-14 Cadet
Radio-controlled target drone derived from the Culver LFA Cadet.
The Culver PQ-14 Cadet is a target drone developed from the Culver LFA Cadet for the U.S. Army Air Corps. It was used extensively during World War II and beyond for training anti-aircraft artillery gunners.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Culver Aircraft Company
- Designer
- Albert Mooney
- Introduction
- 1942
- Retired
- 1950
- Primary User
- U.S. Army Air Corps
- More Users
- United States Navy / U.S. Army Air Force / United States Air Force
- Number Built
- 2,043
- Developed From
- Culver PQ-8
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The U.S. Army Air Corps drew up a requirement for a radio-controlled target drone in 1940. Culver proposed a modification of its civilian Model LFA Cadet, which the Army purchased as the PQ-8. The success of the PQ-8 led to the development of the NRD; a single PQ-8 was converted to the new configuration and tested as the XPQ-14. Larger and faster than the PQ-8, the PQ-14 had retractable landing gear and a wooden fuselage, wings, and tail with stressed plywood skin. The prototype was followed by YPQ-14A service test aircraft and 1,348 PQ-14A production models. Of the latter, 1,198 were transferred to the U.S. Navy, which designated them TD2C-1 with the name Turkey. The YPQ-14B was a slightly heavier variant; 25 were produced before production shifted to the PQ-14B. A total of 594 PQ-14Bs served as target drones for the USAAF. A single PQ-14B was converted to use an O-300-9 engine and designated XPQ-14C. After World War II, Culver developed the XPQ-15 from their Model V light aircraft; after only four were delivered the company went bankrupt in 1946.
Reader's Guide
The PQ-14 Cadet was a key training tool for anti-aircraft gunners during World War II. The aircraft was flown unmanned, controlled by radio, but was flown by a pilot for ferry flights using a rudimentary control panel and their parachute as a seat. Docile and easy to fly, it was finished in a bright red target color scheme, though operationally a silver or red finish was applied. Without a pilot, they were flown from a mother ship, typically a Beech C-45. Despite their short lifespan, the aircraft performed well and the Franklin engine was considered trouble-free. Most were blasted out of the sky by Army anti-aircraft gunners, but a dozen or more survived and were surplused after 1950. Flown as recreational aircraft, their new owners found sprightly performance. The PQ-14 series represents an early and successful use of unmanned aircraft for military training, and surviving examples are preserved in museums and private collections.
Did You Know?
- The PQ-14 was larger and faster than its predecessor, the PQ-8.
- The U.S. Navy designated the PQ-14A as the TD2C-1 with the name Turkey.
- After World War II, Culver went bankrupt after delivering only four XPQ-15 drones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Culver PQ-14 Cadet?
The PQ-14 Cadet is a radio-controlled target drone that the U.S. Army Air Corps adapted from the civilian Culver LFA Cadet aircraft. It entered service in 1942 and remained in active training use well past the end of World War II.
What was the Culver PQ-14 Cadet's primary role?
It served as a live flying target so anti-aircraft artillery crews could rehearse their tracking and firing under realistic combat-like conditions. Essentially, it was a disposable practice drone that gunners could shoot at again and again.
When did the Culver PQ-14 Cadet first fly?
The type made its maiden flight in 1942, arriving just as the war effort demanded reliable, repeatable targets for flak-battery training.
How many Culver PQ-14 Cadets were built in total?
Across all its designations—PQ-14A, PQ-14B, TD2C-1, XPQ-14C, and XPQ-15—a combined 1,967 airframes rolled off the production line.
What engine did the Culver PQ-14 Cadet use?
It was powered by a Franklin engine, which operators consistently noted for being remarkably trouble-free over the drone's long service life.
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