Compass Cope
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| Compass Cope | |
|---|---|
| Type | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| Manufacturer | Boeing/Ryan Aeronautical |
| Maiden flight | July 1973 |
| Status | Canceled |
| Primary user | U.S. Air Force |
| Unit cost | Unknown |
| Variants | Ryan AQM-91 Firefly |
Compass Cope was a program initiated by the U.S. Air Force in 1971 to develop an upgraded reconnaissance drone that could take off and land from a runway like a manned aircraft, and operate at high altitudes for up to 24 hours to perform surveillance, communications relay, or atmospheric sampling. Two aircraft, the Boeing YQM-94 Compass Cope B, and the Ryan Aeronautical YQM-98A Compass Cope R participated in the program.
Boeing was originally selected as a sole source for the Compass Cope program, with the USAF awarding the company a contract for two YQM-94A (later YGQM-94A) demonstrator vehicles. However, Ryan then pitched the Model 235 as an alternative, and the next year, 1972, the Air Force agreeably awarded Ryan a contract for two YQM-98A (later YGQM-98A) demonstrators as well.
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[edit] Boeing YQM-94A Compass Cope B
The Boeing YQM-94A was variously known as the "Compass Cope B", "Cope B", or "B-Gull". It was basically a jet powered sailplane, with long straight wings, a twin fin tail, retractable tricycle landing gear, and a turbojet perched in a pod on its back. The engine was a GE J97-GE-100 providing 5,270 lb (2,390 kg) thrust.
The Compass Cope B was radio controled, with no autonomous guidance capability, as it was strictly a demonstrator. It had a TV camera in the nose to allow it to be flown from a ground station. Initial flight of the first demonstrator was in July 1973, but the machine crashed on its second flight, a few days later. The second demonstrator performed its first flight in November 1974, and completed the evaluation program.
[edit] Ryan YQM-98A Compass Cope R
Ryan's entry into the competition was an updated variant of the Model 154 / AQM-91 Firefly, which they called the "Model 235"
The Ryan YQM-98A was variously known as the "Compass Cope R", "Cope R", or "R-Tern". Its general configuration was similar to that of the Boeing Compass Cope B, resembling a jet sailplane with a twin-fin tail, retractable tricycle landing gear, and an engine in a pod on its back. The engine was a Garrett YF104-GA-100 turbofan, with 4,050 pound (1,835 kg) thrust. The Compass Cope R had a clear resemblance to the Model 154, though its wings were straight instead of swept.
Initial flight of the first Compass Cope R demonstrator was in August 1974. However, the Boeing Compass Cope B won the competition in August 1976 on the basis of lower cost, with the company awarded a contract to build preproduction prototypes of the "YQM-94B" operational UAV.
Since the evaluation of the Compass Cope prototypes had shown the YQM-98A to be superior to the YQM-94A in some respects, Ryan challenged the award. It did them no good, since the entire Compass Cope program was cancelled in July 1977, apparently because of difficulties in developing the sensor payloads for the aircraft.
[edit] Specifications (Compass Cope R)
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Capacity: None
- Length: 37ft 4in (11.4m)
- Wingspan: 81ft 2in (24.57m)
- Height: 8ft 0in (2.4m)
- Wing area: ft (m)
- Empty weight: 14,310lb (6,480kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 500mph (805km/h)
- Maximum speed: 500mph (805km/h)
- Cruise speed: 500mph (805km/h)
- Range: 14,000mi (22,540km)
- Service ceiling: 70,000ft (21,300m)
- Thrust/weight:.29:1
[edit] References
- This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.
