The LTV L450F, also known as the L45ØF, was a prototype quiet reconnaissance aircraft, developed by

Ling-Temco-Vought Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2000. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, amo ...

in the late 1960s for use in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

by the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. Based on the airframe of a

Schweizer 2-32 Schweizer (German meaning 'Swiss') may refer to: People * Eduard Schweizer (1913–2006), Swiss New Testament scholar * Irène Schweizer (born 1941), Swiss Jazz pianist * J. Otto Schweizer (March 27, 1863–1955) Swiss-American sculptor * Julián ...

sailplane, the aircraft flew in 1970, and was developed into the XQM-93 reconnaissance drone before the project was cancelled.

Design and development

Developed as a follow on to the

Igloo White Operation Igloo White was a covert United States joint military electronic warfare operation conducted from late January 1968 until February 1973, during the Vietnam War. These missions were carried out by the 553d Reconnaissance Wing, a U.S. A ...

program, the L450F was intended to provide a quiet reconnaissance and communications relay aircraft.Jane's 1971, p. 344-345 Under a $1 million

USD The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...

contract by LTV Electrosystems, the L450F was developed from a

Schweizer SGS 2-32 Schweizer (German meaning 'Swiss') may refer to: People * Eduard Schweizer (1913–2006), Swiss New Testament scholar * Irène Schweizer (born 1941), Swiss Jazz pianist * J. Otto Schweizer (March 27, 1863–1955) Swiss-American sculptor * Julián ...

sailplane A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding (also called soaring). This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailpla ...

, modified by Schweizer to LTV's specifications. These modifications included stronger wing

spar SPAR, originally DESPAR, styled as DE SPAR, is a Dutch multinational that provides branding, supplies and support services for independently owned and operated food retail stores. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1932, by Adriaan van Well, ...

s, thicker wing skin, installation of a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engine driving a three-bladed propeller, and main landing gear based on that of the Grumman Ag-Cat agricultural aircraft. An alternative configuration, using a piston engine, was also proposed. The prototype L450F first flew in February 1970, but was destroyed during its third flight, on 23 March that year, the pilot successfully bailing out. A second prototype was then completed and flown, successfully completing the testing program, and a third prototype was ordered as the unmanned XQM-93 drone, under the

Compass Dwell A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ...

project. Four examples of the XQM-93 were contracted for by the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

, however the Compass Dwell project was subsequently cancelled.Goebel, Greg
"The Prehistory of Endurance UAVs"
. ''VectorSite''. Accessed 18 June 2010.

Operational history

27 March 1972 Donald R. Wilson reached the altitude of 15,456 m (50,708 ft) in horizontal flight flying the remaining L450F, registered N2450F, setting a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale international record, Class C-1c, Group II (Powered aeroplanes, takeoff weight 1000 to 1750 kg, turboprop). This record still stood as of 27 March 2012.

Specifications (prototype)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Taylor, John W.R. (ed.) ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–1972''. London: Sampson Low Marston & Co, 1971. .

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ltv L450f L45OF 1970s United States experimental aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft High-wing aircraft Single-engined turboprop aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1970