OQ-2A Wimpy
The dummy motor houses the real powerplant (above left), a bell type electric motor that turns an 8–5 propeller. For the parachute option (above right) open both hatches and place the batteries as far forward as possible. Note the chute hatch. When using the chute option, always verify the cg. Julie Hunton poses with the nearly 1⁄3 scale OQ-2A (below left) to give it scale. The full scale
airplane was designed by actor Reginald Denny as a target drone. Approximately 14,000 of the OQ series airplanes were built for the WW2 war effort effort to train air artillerymen. Bill Hadden (below right), of “The Wright Experience”, prepares to launch the electric powered OQ-2A model. Of the 14,000 OQs built only a handful remain today in museums. The AMA has one.
Modeling with a purpose
Coauthor Professor John E. Bird, of Australia (at left), saw the OQ-2A as an important waypoint in the history of unmanned airborne vehicles. Prof. Bird befriended Reginald Denny’s son, his daughter, and the daughter of engine designer, Mr. Walter Righter, and with their help put together a good history of the development of the OQ series of airplanes. Coauthor John Hunton (above) teamed with Prof. Bird to design various scaled models of the OQ-2A, several of which are being built in the US and Australia. All versions seem to be good flyers.
C
oauthor Professor John E. Bird, an Australian, writes: “This project is part of a US-Australian ‘build and fly tribute’ to
the aviation pioneers and veterans of WW2 who operated the Denny Radio Planes. The Denny Radio Plane is a significant yet overlooked chapter in aviation history. “The Denny Radio Plane is the first mass-produced military ac- credited remote piloted aircraft—the beginnings of the Unmanned Airborne Vehicle era. It is also a significant point of transition be- tween freeflight model aviation and the remote controlled model aviation eras. Reginald Denny is most deserving of his ‘Hall of Fame’ status in the Academy of Model Aeronautics.”
36 OCTOBER 2012
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