A simple guide to enter into or reference the field of Unmanned Aviation Systems. AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: 1960sÐ1970s
The. U.S.. Air. Force. pioneered. the. first. mass-produced,. long-range,. high-speed. unmanned. aircraft. designed. to. conduct. primarily. reconnaissance. missions. but. evolved.into.a.wide.array.of.tasks.from.suppression.of.enemy.air.defenses.to.weap- ons.delivery..The.Ryan.model.147,.later.renamed.the.AQM-34.Lightning.Bug.and. Firefly.series,.has.the.longest.service.record.for.an.unmanned.aircraft..Designed.as. an.initiative.of.the.Ryan.Aircraft.Company.in.the.late.1950s.from.an.earlier.target. drone,.the.aircraft.was.powered.by.a.turbojet,.employed.low.drag.wing.and.fuselage. configuration. and. could. reach. altitudes. in. excess. of. 50,000. ft. and. speeds. of. 600. knots.(high.subsonic).
The.Bug,.as.it.was.called.by.its.operators,.had.a.long.career.and.flew.in.a.wide. range.of.high-and.low-altitude.profiles.performing.electronic.signal-g