The Ryan YQM-98 R-Tern (also called Compass Cope R) was a developmental aerial reconnaissancedrone developed by Ryan Aeronautical. It 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.
"Compass Cope" was a program initiated by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1971 to develop an upgraded reconnaissancedrone 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 in 1971. However, Ryan then pitched an alternative, and the next year the USAF awarded Ryan a contract for two YQM-98A (later YGQM-98A) demonstrators as well.
Ryan's entry into the competition was the Model 235, an updated variant of the Model 154 / AQM-91 Firefly. The YQM-98A's 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-force (18.0 kN) 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 on 17 August 1974.[1] 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 Ryan YQM-98 to be superior to the Boeing YQM-94 in some respects, Ryan challenged the award. It did no good, since the entire Compass Cope program was cancelled in July 1977, apparently because of difficulties in developing sensor payloads for the aircraft.
Signed cover envelope for the first flight of the Compass Cope R. Aug. 17, 1974 - Edwards Air Force Base, CaliforniaPreserved YQM-98A on display without its engine at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77[2]
This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryan YQM-98 Compass Cope.
– National Museum of the United States Air Force
Teledyne Ryan GQM-98 R-Tern
January 01, 1970
ryan, tern, also, called, compass, cope, developmental, aerial, reconnaissance, drone, developed, ryan, aeronautical, could, take, land, from, runway, like, manned, aircraft, operate, high, altitudes, hours, perform, surveillance, communications, relay, atmosp. The Ryan YQM 98 R Tern also called Compass Cope R was a developmental aerial reconnaissance drone developed by Ryan Aeronautical It 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 YQM 98 R Tern Compass Cope R Role Unmanned aerial vehicle UAV Manufacturer Ryan Aeronautical First flight 17 August 1974 Status Canceled Primary user United States Air Force Developed from Ryan AQM 91 Firefly Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications Compass Cope R performance estimated 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDesign and development edit Compass Cope was a program initiated by the United States Air Force USAF 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 in 1971 However Ryan then pitched an alternative and the next year the USAF awarded Ryan a contract for two YQM 98A later YGQM 98A demonstrators as well Ryan s entry into the competition was the Model 235 an updated variant of the Model 154 AQM 91 Firefly The YQM 98A s 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 force 18 0 kN 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 on 17 August 1974 1 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 Ryan YQM 98 to be superior to the Boeing YQM 94 in some respects Ryan challenged the award It did no good since the entire Compass Cope program was cancelled in July 1977 apparently because of difficulties in developing sensor payloads for the aircraft Specifications Compass Cope R performance estimated edit nbsp Signed cover envelope for the first flight of the Compass Cope R Aug 17 1974 Edwards Air Force Base California nbsp Preserved YQM 98A on display without its engine at the Pima Air amp Space Museum Data from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 2 General characteristicsCrew None Length 38 ft 4 in 11 68 m Wingspan 81 ft 2 5 in 24 75 m Height 8 ft 0 in 2 44 m Wing area 347 sq ft 32 24 m2 Aspect ratio 19 1 Empty weight 5 600 lb 2 540 kg Gross weight 14 310 lb 6 490 kg Powerplant 1 Garrett YF104 GA 100 4 000 lbf 18 kN thrust Performance Maximum speed Mach 0 6 Endurance 30 hoursSee also editRelated development Ryan AQM 91 Firefly Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Boeing YQM 94References edit Taylor 1976 p 637 Taylor 1976 pp 637 638 Taylor John W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 London Jane s Yearbooks 1976 ISBN 0 354 00538 3 This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel which exists in the Public Domain External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryan YQM 98 Compass Cope Boeing YQM 94A Compass Cope B National Museum of the United States Air Force Teledyne Ryan GQM 98 R Tern Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ryan YQM 98 R Tern amp oldid 1181231757, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
