The Nord CT.41 Narwhal was a French target drone, designed and built by Nord Aviation during the late 1950s for the purpose of providing training in the interception of supersonic bomber aircraft.
| CT41 PQM-56 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Target drone |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Nord Aviation |
| First flight | c.1959 |
| Introduction | 1960 |
| Retired | 1971 (U.S. Navy) |
| Primary users | French Air Force United States Navy |
| Number built | 62 |
Design and development
editStarting development in 1957, the CT.41 used a canard configuration, with a short, straight wing located at mid-fuselage with wingtip-mounted ramjet engines.[1] Launched using an elevating ramp,[2] two solid rocket boosters provided initial thrust upon launch, with the ramjets igniting at a speed of Mach 1.7.[3] Command guidance was used for control; the aircraft could be fitted with electronic enhancers and flares to boost its target signature.[3] Two types were produced, the CT.41A for high-altitude use, and the CT.41B for low-altitude training. If the drone was not shot down, recovery was via parachute.[3]
Operational history
editThe CT.41 began test flights during 1959,[2] with production starting later that year; 62 aircraft were constructed for use by the French Air Force. They had only a brief service life before being retired due to being too fast to provide practical training for interceptor pilots. Hawker Siddeley acquired a manufacturing license for the type in November 1960.[2] Six were acquired by Bell Aircraft for evaluation by the United States Navy; Bell also acquired a production license for the type, which in 1962 received the U.S. designation PQM-56A. The PQM-56A was out of service by the early 1970s.[3]
Specifications
editData from Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles (2003)[1][3]
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 9.80 m (32 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 3.73 m (12 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)
- Gross weight: 1,297 kg (2,860 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,550 kg (5,622 lb) with boosters
- Powerplant: 2 × Type 625 ramjet
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 3.1
- Endurance: 14 minutes
- Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,000 ft)
References
edit
Citations
editBibliography
edit- Parsch, Andreas (2003). "Nord/Bell CT.41/PQM-56". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2014-05-09.