Table of Contents
RCATS and the Whirlygig
But, talking to other people, it gradually emerged that small target aircraft had indeed been flown from The Whirlygig by the US Army after WW!! for the practice firing of AA guns.
Radio Controlled aerial Target
The result of an intensive Internet search confirmed that the US Army used RCATS extensively as a training aid for AA Gunners
An RCAT model RP 19 sitting on a take off trolley with the anchor cable and the tether to the central pylon in position.
The original method of launching RCATS was by catapult (often with Jato rocket assistance) the launcher being designed and made by Radioplane and designated the A7
After WW11 a Rotary Launcher was developed by Radioplane which became the standard launch system for RCAT’s by the US Army.
Radioplane A2 Rotary Launcher
Radioplane 19 Launcher trolley and centre post
RCAT ready for flight
Radioplane 19 being prepared for launch by an A2 rotary launcher.
Descent by parachute
RCATS were recovered for reuse by a 32ft. diameter parachute that lowered the aircraft down to the land or sea when the fuel ran out or by radio command.
A rare picture of a downed and drowned RCAT recovered by a landing craft – but not at Stiffkey!
The engines were soon found to be too fast and high revving for use in fishing boats!
A 1961 version of a Radioplane 19 is displayed at the IWM Duxford. It is a day/night reconnaissance version and one of the last model 19’s made over 20 years
Wing Commander Ken Wallis – of Little Nellie fame – visited The Whirlygig sometime in 1953 whilst working at the Air Ministry in London and he saw RCATS and the Launcher in action at Stiffkey!
B29 gunnery practise!
Simulated air to air firing!
You have control, sir
From July ‘52 until October ’58 RAF Langham was operated asN0 2 CAACU by Marshall’s of Cambridge as well as providing accommodation for some US Army units.
Morston Road US troop accommodation site
After an immense amount of Internet searching, contact was eventually established with a US soldier who worked in a met section giving weather info to the AA Gunners at Weybourne (and was accommodated at Langham).
One reason for the short operational life of The Whirlygig may be connected with the change over from 40mm AA Guns to 75mm AA Guns by the US Amy in late ‘53
Reginald Denny, the founder of Radio plane with engineer Walter Righter
Reginald Denny and his first RCAT, RP - 1
A pre war model RP4 ready for take off from a catapult ramp
Three RP 4’s taking off in formation during the US Army acceptance trials
Sidewinder twin vertical cylinder with extended gearbox drives for contra rotating propellers
The RP 4 was replaced by the RP 5 during 1942
In the early ’40’s the opposed twin cylinder engine was modified to have front mounted spur gear driven contra rotating propellers.
Radioplane RP5’s WW11 production
In 1943 the RP 7 replaced the RP 5 and became the most used of WW11 RCATS
RP 8/OQ 14/TDD 3 an improved version of OQ 3/TDD 3
And then the definitive RP 19/ OQ19/ KD 2R series
Righters first model engine (the Denneymite) and his first twin cylinder engine for the RP 1
And subsequently the same engine was redesigned to drive a single propeller
And finally, the four cylinder horizontally opposed engine for the Radioplane RP 19 series.
A whole row of McCulloch’s
From RCATS to UAV’s by the thousands!!
Radioplanes star employee!!
PPT Slide
The END
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Author: Fred Butcher
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