Globe KD5G

Globe KD5G
Globe XKD5G on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Role	Target drone
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Globe Aircraft

The Globe KD5G was an American target drone produced by Globe Aircraft Corporation that began development in 1949.

"The XKD5G-1 was an early pulsejet-powered U.S. Navy target drone. The pulsejet was mounted externally, as on the German V-1 missile of World War II, but was smaller. The drone could fly 540 kilometers (335 miles) per hour and could be recovered by parachute for reuse."

"The XK5DG-1 originated in 1949 and was tested at the Naval Air Test Center, Point Mugu, California. By 1951-52, speed requirements for drones had increased, and pulsejets were not effective beyond an altitude of 9,144 meters (30,000 feet). Thus, further development of the XKD5G-1 was abandoned. The XKD5G-1 was one of the last uses of pulsejets by the U.S. military."

Specifications (KD5G-1)

Data from Placard at Udvar-Hazy

General characteristics

• Crew: None
• Length: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
• Wingspan: 9 ft (2.7 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Marquardt PJ46 pulsejet, 170 lbf (0.76 kN) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 335 mph (539 km/h; 291 kn)

References

• This article contains material that originally came from the placard at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

External links

• KD5G