Los Angeles Times Salutes Reginald Denny
The Los Angeles Times published an aritcle after Reginald Denny had died that illustrates his significant influence. No modeler has had this kind of impact on the aerospace industry. The article also published a rare picture of a pre WWII test of an early drone. Take a look at it.
From the Los Angeles Times Business Section
Monday, November 26, 1979
Reginald Denny's Drone
Actor Played Important Role In Defense Work
BY CHARLES HILLINGER
Times Staff Writer
NEWBURY PARK, California -To filmgoers the late actor, Reginald Denny, was a familiar lead player in more than 200 movies, including such classics as "Around the Wrold in 80 Days" and "Cat Balou".
To Military leaders in 20 nations however, Denny is recognized as the father of target aircraft, also known as drones and Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs). He developed the craft as a hobby 45 years ago.
Denny's first contract-for $30,000 in 1938 to produce 3 hp, 8 1/2-foot long drones at $600 each for the Amy -- blossomed into a multi-million dollar industry during World War II, and has continued as such ever since.>
The actor's target plane firm, called Radio Plane Co. became a Northrop subsidiary in 1962. Denny died in 1967.
Northrop Ventura Division in Newbury Park is the world leader in development and production of unmanned aerial targets
More than 85000 KD-2R5 basic training target planes have been turned out by Northrop and the predecessor company, Radio Plane since 1964. This particular drone is used by U.S. military forces and by 20 other nations.
More KD-2R5 drones have rolled off the assembly line than any other aircraft ever manufactured and the KD-2R5 has been in production longer than any other Northrop product. In addition to the KD-2R5, 12,000 other target aircraft have been manufactured by Northrop over the years.
The drones sell for as little as $25,000 each and as much as $100,000.
This year's gross sales at Northrop's Ventura Division, which has 1000 employees, will exceed $50 million. Half the sales are aircraft. Other items manufactured here include fiberglass wing-to-body fairings for Boeing 747's, ejection seats for military jets and aircraft parts for the F-5 and F-18 fighter planes.
The newest and most sophisticated of these target drones is the ROM-74C, an air launchable turbo-jet aerial target to be used by the Navy as a cruise missile simulator.
Ten of the drones nicknamed the Chuckar III have been ordered by the Navy. This latest drone is 12.9 feet long, travels at speeds upward of 600 m.p.h. and flies at altitudes above 30,000 feet.
Built into these drones are various electrical, mechanical and optical devices to simulate full-size aircraft on radar screens. The small pilotless aerial targets simulate flight maneuvers of attack fighter aircraft and missiles.
The KD-2R5. the most popular of the aerial targets and the drone Denny helpe d develop, is a 12-foot 71/2 inch long, small. lightweight, propeller-driven, high wing monoplane that travels as fast as 250 m.p.h. and to altitudes as high as 27,000 feet.
Aerial targets come equipped with parachutes for recovery on land or at sea. Average life expectancy for a drone is five flights. The record number of flights for one of the pilotless planes before being knocked out in target practice is 64 missions.
Drone pilots and navigators fly the aerial targets by remote control much like flying a model airplane. RPVs have been designed and built to serve as small robot planes equipped with cameras that relay or bring back photos of simulated enemy installations.
Research and development is under way for RPV's that could deliver bombs and other weapons during wartime situations