In 1940, the Culver company was awarded a contract by the U.S. Army for a target drone aircraft based on their Cadet civilian light aircraft. Designated the PQ-8 it proved to be very successful and led to the development of the slightly larger and faster PQ-14. These all-wood drones were used throughout the United States to train both Army and Navy anti-aircraft gunners. Being descended from a piloted aircraft the PQ-14 could be flown either by remote control or by a pilot. Naturally, pilots never flew the aircraft when they were being shot at from the ground. After the war many of the surviving PQ-14s had the remote-control equipment removed and were sold on the civilian market.
Wingspan
30 ft
Length
19 ft 6 in.
Height
8 ft 5 in.
Weight
1,830 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed
180 MPH
Service Ceiling
13,000 ft
Range
512 miles
Engine
One Franklin O-300-11 four-cylinder opposed with 125 horsepower
Crew
Remote control or 1 pilot
Manufacturer Culver
Markings Army Air Force, Biggs AAF, El Paso, Texas 1945
Designation PQ-14B
Registration N1063M
Serial Number 44-21819
Pima Air & Space Museum
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