White Sands in Doρa Ana County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Beechcraft MQM-61 Cardinal Target Drone
Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024
1. Beechcraft MQM-61 Cardinal Target Drone Marker
Inscription.
Beechcraft MQM-61 Cardinal Target Drone. . In 1955, the Beechcraft Corporation designed the Model 1001, as the initial version of this target drone was designated, in response to a US Navy requirement for gunnery and air-to-air combat training. Production of the type began in 1959, with the drone being given the Navy designation of KDB-1, later MQM-39A. The Model 1001 led to the similar Model 1025 for the US Army, which gave it the MQM-61A designation. The MQM-61A was a simple monoplane with a vee tail. Powered by a 125 horsepower McCulloch TC6150-J-2 flat-six, air-cooled, two-stroke piston engine driving a two-blade propeller, it could tow banners or targets of its own, with two targets under each wing, and also carried scoring devices. The drone was launched using a RATO (rocket assist take off) booster and was recovered by parachute. A total of 2,200 Cardinals of all variants were built, the majority for the US Army, with the rest operated by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps.
In 1955, the Beechcraft Corporation designed the Model 1001, as the initial version of this target drone was designated, in response to a US Navy requirement for gunnery and air-to-air combat training. Production of the type began in 1959, with the drone being given the Navy designation of KDB-1, later MQM-39A. The Model 1001 led to the similar Model 1025 for the US Army, which gave it the MQM-61A designation. The MQM-61A was a simple monoplane with a vee tail. Powered by a 125 horsepower McCulloch TC6150-J-2 flat-six, air-cooled, two-stroke piston engine driving a two-blade propeller, it could tow banners or targets of its own, with two targets under each wing, and also carried scoring devices. The drone was launched using a RATO (rocket assist take off) booster and was recovered by parachute. A total of 2,200 Cardinals of all variants were built, the majority for the US Army, with the rest operated by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps.
Erected by White Sands Missile Range Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.
Location. 32° 23.168′ N, 106° 28.738′ W.
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Marker is in White Sands, New Mexico, in Doρa Ana County. It is on Wsmr P Rt 1 (New Mexico Route 213) 4 miles south of U.S. 70. The marker and various missiles are located on the grounds of the White Sands Missile Range Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: White Sands Missile Range NM 88002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Rio Grande Valley. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Gadsden Purchase, and the Republic of Texas.
More about this marker. The marker and museum are located on the White Sands Missile Range, an active U.S. military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.
The MQM-61 Cardinal was a target drone designed and built by Beechcraft.
(Submitted on August 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Public Domain - US Navy, circa 1962
3. USS Boston (CAG-1) launches KDB-1 drone
A Beechcraft KDB-1 Cardinal target drone is launched from the U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Boston (CAG-1).
Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 394 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
