Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones
Q-7
Copyright © 2006 Andreas Parsch

Boeing QB-17 (Q-7)

After the end of World War II, a large number of B-17G Flying Fortress bombers became surplus to USAAF (and later USAF) requirements. Some of these were converted to unmanned QB-17 configuration, mostly for use as aerial targets. The first conversions, known as QB-17G, were made in 1946 for air sampling near or within the mushroom clouds of the "Operation Crossroads" nuclear tests. However, most QB-17s were QB-17L or QB-17N target drones, which were used during the 1950s in tests of guided missiles. The QB-17L had television cameras and transmitters to provide a direct view of the incoming missile. The QB-17N had a different remote-control system and no on-board TV equipment. Instead, it could be fitted with tracking equipment in wingtip pods, which were parachute-recoverable even when the drone was destroyed. The last flying QB-17 was destroyed in a missile test in 1960.

Photo: USAAF
QB-17G


In December 1953, the Wright Air Development Center (WADC) had requested to replace the designation QB-17 by Q-7A, Q-7B and Q-7C. Although only the QB-17G designation was explicitly mentioned once in the request (mostly the drone was simply referred to as QB-17), the request's subject were obviously three different drone configurations. It's not unlikely that these were the QB-17G, -17L and -17N. WADC argued that the existing QB-17 nomenclature led to unnecessary problems and delays in the production and support of the drones, because they were too easily confused with unmodified B-17 aircraft. However, the ARDC (Air Research & Development Command) did not concur with this reasoning, and turned the request down in March 1954. Because the Q-7 designation was not re-used otherwise, the #7 slot in the Q-series remained unassigned (see also Q-8).

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for QB-17L (based on B-17G data):

Length22.66 m (74 ft 4 in)
Wingspan31.62 m (103 ft 9 in)
Height5.84 m (19 ft 2 in)
WeightEmpty: 16300 kg (36000 lb)
Speed462 km/h (287 mph) at 7600 m (25000 ft)
Ceiling10850 m (35600 ft)
Propulsion4x Wright R-1820-97 piston engine; 890 kW (1200 hp) each

Main Sources

[1] USAF Aircraft Nomenclature Records
[2] Peter M Bowers: "Boeing Aircraft since 1916", Putnam, 1989


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1




Last Updated: 25 November 2006