Radioplane OQ-6
Target drone developed by Radioplane, cancelled after World War II.
The Radioplane OQ-6 was a target drone built by the Radioplane Company, originally called the RP-14. The United States Army Air Forces tested it for possible military use. Although a limited number were bought, large-scale production orders were scrapped when World War II ended.
The RP-14 was a small, conventional aircraft with a strut-braced monoplane wing and a standard tail assembly. It used a Righter O-45 four-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine. A later variant, the RP-15, swapped that engine for a McCulloch O-90. The airframe was more streamlined than the earlier OQ-3 model.
The RP-14 made its first flight in November 1944. The USAAF gave it the designation OQ-6. Testing led to the improved RP-15, which became the OQ-6A, and the military placed orders for mass production. These orders were canceled because the war ended. Even so, some OQ-6s, later redesignated XOQ-6A, were still in service with the United States Air Force in 1948.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Target drone
- National Origin
- United States
- Manufacturer
- Radioplane Company
- Primary User
- United States Army Air Forces
- First Flight
- November 1944
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Radioplane RP-14 was a small aircraft of conventional design, with a strut-braced monoplane wing and conventional empennage; power was from a Righter O-45 four-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine. An improved version, the RP-15, replaced the O-45 with a McCulloch O-90. The airframe was improved over the company's preceding OQ-3, with improved streamlining.
The RP-14 first flew in November 1944; designated OQ-6 by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), evaluation led to the development of the improved RP-15, designated OQ-6A, and orders for production of the aircraft in quantity were placed. These orders were cancelled due to the end of World War II; however, some OQ-6s, redesignated XOQ-6A, were still in service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948.
Variants included the RP-14 (initial version powered by Righter O-45), OQ-6 (USAAF designation of RP-14), RP-15 (improved version with 60 hp McCulloch O-90; top speed 195 mph), OQ-6A (USAAF designation of RP-15), and XOQ-6A (USAF redesignation of surviving OQ-6s and OQ-6As).
Reader's Guide
The Radioplane OQ-6 represents a late-World War II target drone program that did not reach full production due to the war's end. Its significance lies in its incremental design improvements over the earlier OQ-3, particularly in streamlining and engine upgrades. The shift from the Righter O-45 to the McCulloch O-90 in the RP-15 variant increased top speed to 195 mph, reflecting the evolving requirements for target drones. Although major production contracts were cancelled, the aircraft's continued service with the United States Air Force into 1948 under the redesignation XOQ-6A indicates that the surviving examples remained useful for training or evaluation purposes after the war. The OQ-6's development and limited procurement illustrate the rapid pace of drone technology during the conflict and the subsequent contraction of military orders as hostilities ceased. Its legacy is as a transitional design between earlier Radioplane drones and post-war unmanned systems.
Did You Know?
- The Radioplane OQ-6 was originally designated RP-14 by the company.
- An improved version, the RP-15, replaced the Righter O-45 engine with a McCulloch O-90.
- Some OQ-6s were redesignated XOQ-6A and were still in USAF service in 1948.
- The OQ-6's airframe featured improved streamlining over the preceding OQ-3.
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