reconnaissance

My presumption is the captions come from markings on the back of these photos, and/files in which these photos are contained. Provided the myriad of Ryan Model 147 variants, it is very difficult to pin down the actual designations and/or model numbers of the variants. So, fully understanding that I may be incorrect, I believe that this may actually be a Ryan Model 147SC/TV drone [SEE scanmonkey1's COMMENT BELOW]. Aside from the caption, the data-link bulge on top of the fuselage and the television camera below the nose reveal this to be a Speedlink (or "Speed Link") equipped 147. Speedlink allowed for approximately "real time" video to be provide to the drone operator. Here is some silent test footage posted at YouTube by San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) of what appears to be exactly this variant. Included in the film is footage of the video feed provided via the Speedlink data-link. F-0979 Speed Link - Posted by SDASM As for the basis of my belief that the actual designation may be the Ryan Model 147SC/TV, that comes from Air Force UAVs - The Secret History, by Thomas P. Ehrhard, July 2010 (A Mitchell Institute Study). Page 26 of the report reads: In July 1972, advances in micro-circuitry allowed the Air Force to field the [Ryan Model 147] "SC/TV" model with a television camera in the nose to enhance navigation accuracy. The airborne remote control officer, who used to fly 'on instruments,' so to speak, could now navigate using a low-resolution television image." Of course, if the photo caption is correct and the date the photo was taken was May 1968, this particular drone may very well be a Ryan Model 147SB modified in a configuration that would later be designated the 147SC (and/or "147SC/TV"). Nonetheless, I can not thank the SDASM enough for making these images (and videos like the one on YouTube linked above) available to the public.

The photo caption is verbatim and correct, if not totally illuminating. The 147SA or SB Speedlink was a testbed which preceded the 147SC/TV (AQM-34L(TV) by about three years and pioneered the use of the TV and Speedlink broadband datalink in the 147 SPA. The Speedlink and TV camera electronics payload occupied the photo camera bay; in contrast, the later SC/TV retained the photographic camera installation; in addition the TV installation was quite different from the Speedlink bird. Please refer to the Wagner "Lightning Bugs" book for further details. Also please see lhttp://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/aqm34/gene-05.htm for an image of the final SC/TV / L/TV installation.

scanmonkey1 Thank you for the info, scanmonkey1, and keep up the great work!

A partially completed mock-up of the Ryan AQM-91 Firefly (a.k.a. Ryan Model 154 Compass Arrow). See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_AQM-91_Firefly

This is the Sturtevant Model S-2, designed by Grover Loening. This aircraft is one of two S-2s delivered to the Signal Corps at San Diego in 1916. See: www.massaerohistory.org/Sturtevant.html www.sturtevantfan.com/Aviation.html