Original U.S. Cold War Northrop Aviation OQ-19 Target Drone RCAT with MQM-57 Wing & Practice Bombs - Dated 1967

Original Item. Only One Available. Developed in the mid-1950s from the U.S. Air Force's OQ-19 target drone, the MQM-57 became the U.S. Army's first unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Originally designated RP-71 by Radioplane and SD-1 by the Army, the MQM-57 conducted short-range battlefield photograph or television surveillance. The MQM-57 was launched from a lightweight stand with the aid of two takeoff rockets. A remote ground operator flew the Falconer via radio signals and tracked it by radar. At the end of a mission, the MQM-57 floated to the ground underneath a parachute deployed from the top of the fuselage. This example is an OQ-19 target drone with an attached MQM-57 wing. The difference in the wings are the large ballasts at each end, not present on the OQ-19. There is little reference to these drones, so this could possibly be a transitional model between the OQ-19 and MQM-57, a good research project.

The OQ-19D is one of a family of propeller driven target drones first deployed in 1948.  The U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force have used these drones for anti-aircraft training with both guns and missiles.  The drones are generally ground launched using a catapult and are radio controlled.  Assuming the drone survives the mission, it is recovered by means of a parachute.  In the 1970s the designation of this family of drones was changed to MQM-33.  By the mid 1980s more than 70,000 of them had been built and used by eighteen different nations. Although no longer in production some remained in service as late as the early 2000s.

This is a fantastic Drone-RCAT-OQ-19 Target Drone which was painted for a museum display. The drone retains its detachable wing as well as two practice bombs which hang off of the sides. This would make for a phenomenal ceiling display!

The drone measures 144” long, with the tail section measuring 50 x 13 x 18”. The front propeller has a span of 44”, and the wingspan is roughly 161”. The propeller is in rough shape with heaving cracking at both ends. It is ink-stamped SENSENICH CORP. The original McCulloch O-100-1 Engine retains its data tag, but it has been painted over. We could make out the Model, O-100-1, and the Model Spec, 4318, but not much else. The side of the drone retains decal information:

US ARMY
DRONE - RCAT - OQ-19
NORTHROP AVIATION 
SERIAL NO. 1641
DOM. 1967
UNIT NO. 284

The top of the drone retains the wing sling, which is stamped 703668-10. There are several stickers reading 28 V DC, denoting the electrical information next to plugs and outlets. There is also an area marked PARACHUTE ACCESS. At the end of a mission, the drone floated to the ground underneath a parachute deployed from the top of the fuselage.

The tail section is painted red with 284 / RCAT / U.S. ARMY decals attached. The wings are painted red near the ends with the ballasts painted yellow. The front of the drone has a shark’s face painted on for the museum display.

The drone comes with two practice bombs which hook onto the sides of the drones for display. The wing is in good shape with both ballasts still well-attached with markings. The wing is detachable for easier transport. There are various markings across the drone and its parts, some original to the drone and some added for the museum display. 

This is an outstanding example of an extremely scarce model of target drone, used by the United States from 1948 into the 2000s. Comes ready to become the centerpiece of your U.S. Military collection!

Dimension Assembled:
Overall length-  144"
Tail - 50" x 13" x 18"
Propeller - 44"
Wingspan - 161"

NOTE: Curbside truck freight is included with purchase for locations within the US 48 states. For other locations please contact for a quotation