Cap'n Jack
Final Approach
AFAIK, we never used pulse jets to power manned aircraft. But we did produce several drones-
Most of us know about the loon, a copy cat of the German V-1
The Katydid was used by the Navy for anti-aircraft and air-to-air gunnery practice. It flew ~250 mph. It was intended to be reusable- Was that optimistic, or a reflection of the gunnary skills of the time?
The Gorgon IIC missle was created during WW2 by the Navy as a ship-to-surface missile, but it was developed too late to be operational by war's end. It was changed into a control test vehicle used to test missile heat-seeking and RADAR homing systems and techniques. Starting in September 1946, around 100 were built and tested.
The NAVY used the XKD5G-1 target drone, the design originated in 1949. By 1952, speed and altitude requirements for drones increased beyond what pulse jets could provide (> 30,000 feet). This drone could fly 335 mph, and was one of the last uses of pulse jets by the US military.
Most of us know about the loon, a copy cat of the German V-1
The Katydid was used by the Navy for anti-aircraft and air-to-air gunnery practice. It flew ~250 mph. It was intended to be reusable- Was that optimistic, or a reflection of the gunnary skills of the time?
The Gorgon IIC missle was created during WW2 by the Navy as a ship-to-surface missile, but it was developed too late to be operational by war's end. It was changed into a control test vehicle used to test missile heat-seeking and RADAR homing systems and techniques. Starting in September 1946, around 100 were built and tested.
The NAVY used the XKD5G-1 target drone, the design originated in 1949. By 1952, speed and altitude requirements for drones increased beyond what pulse jets could provide (> 30,000 feet). This drone could fly 335 mph, and was one of the last uses of pulse jets by the US military.
