The Ryan Firebee
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- čas přidán 19. 04. 2022
- The Firebee target drones built by Ryan Aeronautical Company have served the United States in literally more ways than one, and their unmatched potential forged a decades-long career in all three services of the military.
Able to reinvent itself over and over, the versatile and practical Firebee evolved into a multitude of models, each specialized in terrestrial, maritime, or high-altitude combat.
And even though it is one of the earliest jet-powered drones, it exceeded expectations beyond the turn of the millennium, and half a century later it’s still one of the most widely used target drones in history.
What makes these American target drones so special stems from their inception and design, which have stood the test of time and remain a triumphant feat of communication and execution, serving as a stalwart example of leadership…
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
In 2003, at the beginning of the war in Iraq, BQM-34’s were launched over Baghdad to draw fire and pinpoint defensive positions in order take them out prior to risking pilot’s lives and/or more expensive missiles. They were launched by a 46 year old Navy DC-130A. Lotta old tech on that mission. I was a contractor in the squadron that flew the plane.
Thank you for this reply, really cool perspective.
@@aresjerry I concur.
I always scroll through the comments on these Dark vids, hoping to see unique stories by those with experience or interactions with the subject of the video... just like this one!
Pretty cool to hear they used a target done like that!
Given the situation of was used for and the color, it brought me meaning to _"carrot before the stick"..._ lol (though I presume they weren't left orange, unfortunately, in order to better sell the deception)
Thanks, Donald! 🍻
@@DUKE_of_RAMBLE haha thanks for well thought out reply. Big love from Texas 💪
In 1991, 35 MQM-74C CHUKAR drones were used to garble Iraqi air defenses. These target drones were responsible for confusing the Iraqi air defenses to a high degree. CNN was yakking about the volume of AA fire but no strike missiles or aircraft were endangered over Baghdad. Yes, the Iraqis shot down most of the CHUKARs except for the last one which eventually ran out of fuel.
The pylons rusting in a field at Mugu.
And last I heard they got that C-130 running again but it has so many hours on it they will not certify it.
Yep, I’ve aligned a jato bottle or two.
And I’ve been told a few stories about how many targets were ground launched in 03’. None of them I think I can repeat.
And a bit of old history: in Vietnam they used to put missiles on 34’s because it was better to loose a target than a jet and pilot in very dangerous areas.
I'm 62, I remember reading about the firebee competitions with topgun pilots. The firebee won every time. Drones can perform maneuvers that would kill a human!
You have just learned the truth about u.f.os.......they're probes. At least that makes sense to me.
Easy to believe that a drone could out-turn a manned fighter, but having the drone know how to use that capability is the problem. Highly-maneuverable drones carrying all-aspect sensors and missiles would be hard to beat for air superiority. I have to assume the military is working in that direction.
@@casper6014 Reading those articles as a five-year old in 1965 I am sure:-)
@@vanguard9067 He could be in his 60s, and read an article about the drones at some point in his life, and now remembers it. I remember reading Odessey and I'm not 2800 years old 🤷♂️
@@bennyb.1742 Nice 👋
My mother worked on the Firebee project, among other projects, when she worked for Ryan Aero. She worked for them for over 15+ years.
I remember having a small firebee model she brought home to me. I would play with it all the time.
Thanos for the video memory 😃
Thanos what
@@SHINR__ the purple alien
@@rikofebri627 yea I know.
Like that.. Thanos for the memory lol
Thanos sounds like a good replacement for thanks.
We moved to Eglin AFB in 1965 and dad was in "Targets" for a little while. He went to the "smart bomb" division later, but I'll always remember the "models", actually replicas made for those in the project, he brought home. One of them was a Firebee. We had it for at least 50 years, then the stand broke. Wish I still had it. :-( Dad's still kickin' at 93! :-)
The fact that that one test corrected itself after a full barrelroll when it’s rocket had detached, only to be downed by human confusion, is monumental!
I was an avionics tech at Tyndall AFB from 1976 to 1980. The Firebee was used to train F-106 interceptor pilots, as were the Lockheed T-33A trainer and various drone-modified fighter planes - QF-100, QF-102 and QF-4. The Firebees were recovered from the Gulf range by two methods - USAF drone recovery boats (called the "Airforce Navy") and by midair snatching by Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant helos. The HH-3 was modified with a pole arraingement that would grab the drone, flown up behind the helo, the drone engine shut down and it was pulled aboard the helo. This insured an intact Firebee wasn't damaged by the seawater.
I have lived in Port St Joe all my life. Driving thru Tyndall AFB on a regular, I have seen these things on the repair dollies, and on the launch rack. Never had the chance to watch a launch, but I've always thought they were just damn cool.
The t33 is a two seater next to each other right?
@@jordansmith3721 Nah. Tandem - front/back. Without looking it up, they were the training version of the P80, I believe.
@@PadreV what was side by side that i might be thinking of t37?
I had to look it up, but yes - the T37 is a side by side Cessna jet trainer.
Just for a moment trying to think about the rapid change in aircraft technology here. In just 30 years, Ryan aeronautical went from making the Spirit of St Louis to building jet powered drones.
1903 - 1964 just 61 years from the Wright Flyer to the SR-71 first flight.
We are just 3 years away from being as far from the first flight of the SR-71 as it was from the Wright Flyer.
What's happened in manned aircraft in that time? hardly anything!
@@Ushio01 hardly anything that we know of...
@@Ushio01 shows just how amazing Kelley and his Skunkworks really was. Absolutely amazing.
Well you have to consider that one some level, technology can advance fastest in its earliest days and a bit after. You start to run into peaks where you just can't make leaps and bounds anymore, barring some new critical breakthrough. Technologies plateau. This is normal.
@@danielmalone4446 If it flies it's filmed you can't exactly keep runways and take offs secret.
Besides once it enters production tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people know.
It something is a one off it's either not an improvement or a failure.
We still fly them at White Sands Missile range.
They were handy out there in 1980 when the 16R Vulcan trainees from Ft. Bliss came to White Sands for training.
Yep
Nothing like a video about a highly successful bit of hardware. I love it when a plan comes together.
Ryan also built the first Global Hawk vehicles. If I'm a brag I was there when the first vehicle was presented to the government. and they built the first +- 600 AH-64 Apache Helicopter airframes
There is an excellent video by a former Ryan employee who who was one of the heads of the program on YT. They had a very difficult time getting funding for the program to develop the Firebee for recon and elint work. It seems there was a lot of brass that didn’t want to have non-piloted aircraft. Now they train more drone pilots than regular ones.
Seems that the intellectual inadequacy of top management is a recurring theme with the US military. Sigh.
Firebee true story: My father was on the original crew for the USS Constellation in 1962.
They stopped in Brazil to attempt to sell their military ground to air missiles.
During the demonstration the Firebees were being used and not a single missile hit it's target. All Firebees escaped harm.
As the Brazillian delegation were asked about the possible missile purchase they replied, "Those missiles are nice, but what our military needs are some of those red things up there", referring to the hard to hit Firebees. True story told to my dad, a member of the captain's flight crew.
Thats comment gold. Thanks g
Comments like this is what makes CZcams so fun.
Thanks for sharing your story!
....it found the POW camp at Son Tay and made a number of recon flights over it prior to the launch of Operation Ivory Coast..
That sounds like a great story for a video. I'd love to know more about it.
@@jock-of-ages73 Me too
"Teledyne Ryan's "Buffalo Hunter" reconnaissance drones were flown at treetop level over Son Tay prison seven times before the raid. Six of the flights malfunctioned or were shot down; the last banked too soon and returned with "perfect imagery" of the horizon beyond Son Tay."
@@jock-of-ages73 ...the entire story of 'Operation Gold Coast (the Son Tay Prison raid is told in Benjamin F. Schemmer's book "The Raid" and there are a number of vids on CZcams about the raid itself....a great story!!!
@@mohammedcohen Thanks, is that the place they called The Hanoi Hilton? If so I've heard a little about it, but I'll definitely search out a video on the raid to rescue prisoners. Thanks 👍
Four Firebees hung from a DC-130 is a sight to behold!
Early stage Arsenal Bird, I'd assume?
Ryan Firebee as well as over a dozen other missiles and two fighter planes are on display at Point Mugu Missile Park, located along PCH in Ventura County. Definitely worth a stop to see historical Navy military rockets and drones.
I love this channel. Thank you for your work at bringing these stories to us. It's truly appreciated.
Much appreciate!
@@canis2020 you forget one d lol
When I was about 8 or 9 back in the fifties I had a toy missile set with various NASA and Air Force stuff. Included was a model Firebee. I never knew what that thing was so this video was enlightening. Thanks for activating a section of my brain that has not been used in many years!
There is nothing new under the sun- Solomon
I was an avid reader of Popular Science and Popular Mechanics back in the 60"s when I was in High School. There were so many dreams that were deemed impossible. Now, we are seeing it all come to fruition.
My favorite channel. The 50s and 60s were amazing time to be in aeronautics.
More speed than the technology would allow....... speed was EVERYTHING in the 50's.
I had to re-watch that slow roll recovery attempt a few times. Very impressive! Almost pulled it off.
The Firebee and prop-driven drones were used many times while developing and testing projects on White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico . I was involved with C-Band Radar Transponders installed on most vehicles fired and it was very interesting work (1966-8).
Actor Reginald Denny , the 'Prince of Drones' got this idea started in the 30's. Much to the approval of the poor pilots who used to tow the targets.
Nice footage!
Thank you veterans for all your interesting comments and your service!
I grew up in St.Thomas USVI. Sometime in the late 60’s I was walking along the waterfront,there was a down island cargo vessel, about a 40’ sailing boat,usually
covered with fruit,chickens and fish..There hanging horizontally from the main mast boom
was one of those drones. They had picked it floating around off the SE side of the island.
They tried to declare it as salvage, but some guys came over from Puerto Rico and
made them give it back.
A wonderful video about earlier US technology capabilities attempted for producing drones..launched to skies by airplane ✈️ and fleets ships 🚢. Which started in Ryan firebe prototyping to QT A,QTB drones prototypes ..thanks dark skies channel for sharing this video
Imagine these designer's traveling foreward to see today's drones especially how you can buy from a store.
Apparently one of the programs heads is on yt. And store drones are toys....
Weren’t Fire Bees also used for reconnaissance over North Vietnam?
Yes they were.Steve,you have a good memory.
Yep. Launched from a DC-130 model Hercules mothership...
they were used in Wild weasel missions too. it would be interesting to see a video of the combat capabilities of these drones.
And China.
My dad used to fly the CH-3s that would recover them.
I've always loved the Firebee, ever since I read about the manned vs unmanned air-to-air combat exercises carried out with them in the 70s...
00:02........ThunderBirds, are Go!
We need another video on the Ryan Model 147 Lightning Bug. I don't think too many people realize how important that aircraft is. It literally contributed directly to the success of US UAVs to this day and could argue that with updated avionics, engines, and equipment, it could outperform some drones of comparable value today.
The Firebee was used extensively by the Navy at NAS Pt Mugu, California using a P-2V Neptune as launch vehicle. This looks like the same aircraft. 5:52
Also the firebee being towed in the harbor was port hueneme. In the background is the surface warfare operations area.
They later used the DC-130A for launching. It could carry 4 at one time.
Back in late '79, just before WESTPAC deployment, the frigate I was on had to qualify our BPDSMS by live firing 2 Sea Sparrow missiles against drones at Pt. Mugu. Normal routine was to fire when in range and then when a hit was calculated by the range commander, turn off the BPDSMS CW radar, thus forcing the Sea Sparrow to go dumb, or ballistic. The drone pilots must have been sleeping or late on the switch because we splashed both of the drones targeting us. Big stink until relayed data showed we had killed the radar when ordered and the missiles hit the drones when ballistic. The drone pilots were supposed to turn away to avoid this happening.
Cost when they were first built: $125000 per unit. Same drone built today: $250 000 000. Lobbying is awesome.
So is inflation…
Ryan Aeronautical in this video was the final company in a series of firms founded and owned by T.C. Ryan, a genuine early aviation pioneer. One of T.C. Ryan's earlier companies built the "Spirit of St. Louis" for the solo crossing of the Atlantic by Charles Lindbergh, not the same company as the builder of the Firebee.
Early in the video, the narrator mentions "all three services of the military" at (0:10) and is also in the video's title, which was not completely true. The Firebee was developed for the US Army Air Forces, and was transferred to the U.S. Air Force upon separation of the Army and Air Force in September 1947, with concurrent interest and developments for the U.S. Navy. There are now six uniformed military services of the U.S. (and two non-military uniformed services), not three. The same company, Ryan Aeronautical, was acquired by Teledyne Corporation after NASA contracted Ryan Aerospace to build the landing digital doppler radar system for the Lunar Excursion Module of the Apollo Program. In 1999, Teledyne Ryan was acquired by Northrop-Grumman and the Ryan name no longer appears. There have been uses of the Firebee by both the Canadian Air Force and the Japanese Defense Force, which makes this target or drone aircraft have NATO involvement as well.
My brother was an A & P mechanic with the Navy in the 60s, stationed at NAS North Island. His first job was repairing and refitting these drones after exercises often, it seems, after being fished out of the ocean. One of my best memories of that time was going on a tour of his shop and getting up close and hands on the drone, and an unguided tour of the P2- V launch a/c. I was already an airplane nerd by then, so this was quite a thrill. My brother later went an A-7 squadron at Miramar, thence to two tours on the Bonne Hom Richard, Yankee station off Viet Nam. But the drones were the most interesting.
I remember while stationed at Ft. Bragg we could often see and hear the Vulcan cannons doing target practice at night. As I recall those drones were rather slow moving and were emitting a stream of sparks or pyro-technics. I don't think I saw tracers but once or twice. Seems like this would not have been the target drone they used, as this seems much faster than what I remember. Then again, we were a couple miles, at least, away from the range, and it was at night, so perspective could be totally wonkers as well.
Those sparks was probably the tracer's... The Vulcan type guns shoot that many it looks like a solid line at a distance due to how fast they fire
With all the video of V-1 buzz-bombs in this video, I would have thought there might have been a crediting for technology overlap/reuse. It was confusing to have talk of fire bee while looking at V-1
I'm glad someone else made a good and easy observation. I had made a comment before I noticed yours because I had not seen anyone mention this. As soon as I saw the pulse jet V1 I was waiting for the connection.
Absolutely. There's no reason (to me) why to lengthen the video with footages of another aircraft without mentioning it.
Wonderful informative video(s)! Always wondered about the details of the Firebee.
Most importantly, Your REAL voice adds so much to the interest level drawing the listener in with the creator's own interest vs an A.I. generated voice!
Going the extra mile with Your real personality is much appreciated adding an element of intrigue to an interesting topic!
One of your best videos, and I have watched a lot of your videos. Thank you for your work, entertained and educated a lot of peoples homie
A couple of Firebees are on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton Ohio.
come to San Diego. see our Aerospace museum.
@@charleslatora5750 While I have been to 17 aviation museums across the Nation, I have yet to visit the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Some day!!
The Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park in San Diego has a large archive of Firebee related materials including many videos that are available on YT. Fun to watch them, especially the Ryan promotional ones demonstrating the Firebee’s capabilities.
@@valeriemacleod9627 I look forward to the day I can visit the museum.
Aside from the Air Force Museum in Dayton OH, it seems like I have seen a Firebee on display elsewhere.
After checking the exhibit list of The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque NM, no Firebee on display. They do have an Atomic Cannon, which is quite impressive.
I believe there is a Firebee on display at the Air and n space collection at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base. It's been many years since I've been out there and I believe the only public access now is through the NASA tour bus system from John F. Kennedy Space Center.
I have an old picture book on aircraft history from my childhood, the Firebees were in there! Excellent video, thank you!
I also had an old picture book with firebees! Did yours have painted pictures? I woudnt be surprised if we had the same ones.
@@cjuice9039 yes! It was a hard back, mostly brown cover
Love it! Thanks for illuminating a critical, yet unsung hero of aeronautical advancement.
It's true. Every time I've seen footage of military air drones, it was that red-orange Ryan, they were that ubiquitous. I had the thought that target practice was all the military thought the drones were good for. Now I know better. 😉
You guys should do a show on the Australian designed and operated Jindivik!
Seeing that Firebee loaded up with missiles made me think of a disposable attack drone. Load 4 Hellfires or something else on to a specially designed version of a Firebee, ferry it to near the target zone, have it blow away its targets and then let it lawn-dart into a fifth one and set off the on-board explosive payload inside of it. With the right mix of design and material, it could be relatively dirt-cheap to deploy, compared to what you can take out. I mean, it already looks like a flying thousand-pound bomb, why not 'actually' make it into one? =^x^=
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Model_147#Ryan_Model_147H
Man you gotta check out when the Firebee actually went to war.
They essentially do this but even cheaper, lots of little tube launched SACLOS and even smarter drones
Suggested future project: historically accurate story of the Fieseler Fi103R Riechenberg including the flights by Hanna Reitsch.
We frequently hear of military failures, but rarely of their successes.
In 1979, at Davis Monthan AFB, I worked at the 432 AGS working on the CH-3's with the MARS winch that would catch the drones in midair. When the unit was deactivated, some of the helicopters went to Kirtland AFB to support training while the others were mothballed in the Boneyard. Next door to us were the DC-130's. Several times I saw them loaded down with 4 drones, 2 on each side. One of these drones is on display down the street at the Pima Air Museum. The museum was barely a guard shack in those years. Parked on the side of the dead end road was a B-58 without the belly pod and at the entrance to the shack was an ejection pod propped up on the ground with a hand written sign identifying the item.
Had no idea. Really interesting.
Finally, I’ve worked out why I like these things via words.
I like the tools but not the intent.
Dark team... you guys are awesome!!!!!!
Great video as always
Another great video!
Thank you.
I was part of a test unit formed to see whether a squad of infantry, equipped with the then-new M16 rifle, could engage a variety of drones, all towing drogues that were (in theory) our targets. Interesting, and revealing!
Did y'all actually do the test. And did it ever work
Wow!....I'm thinking "that engine...in a light personal aircraft"... My inner pilot caught a thermal.... :)
The firebee was probably the single greatest contributor to American aviation technology.
My Navy Fighter Pilot Dad (and family) were stationed in Naha, Okinawa from 63-66. We watched a number of Firebee takeoffs.
I interned at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong FRC) in the late 1970s in the Flight Systems Technical Laboratory. Part of that lab was the Remotely Piloted Research Vehicles (RPRV) Lab, whose main function was to test special remotely piloted test vehicles, like the 3/8th scale F-15 used for flat spin recovery testing, the Mini-Sniffer high altitude research vehicle and the Oblique Wing research vehicle (predecessor to the AD-1). They also used a Firebee II drone as a remotely piloted vehicle for testing B-52 launch and MARS (mid-air recovery system). I actually got to work on the electronics module for MARS on that project (my contribution was modest, interns are typically wire and solder monkeys). The B-52 would start the engine then release the drone from it's wing. I recall there was an F-104 chase plane visually monitoring the drone's flight and shooting video. A joke in the lab was that the drone was so fast (Mach 1.2?... I think) they would tease the chase plane pilot about being able to "keep up" with the drone. At the end of flight, the MARS recovery sequence was started from the B-52 (using "my" module), which would dump any residual fuel from the drone, lock the flight surfaces, point the nose down, and arm the recovery parachute, which would deploy at a set altitude. As the drone floated down, an Air Force helicopter (can't remember which model) would snag the parachute mid-air using some external device, and finally drop it off gently at the flight line apron just outside our lab. Fond memories and heady stuff for a 19-year-old college kid!
Wow this was so inspiring in tone that I want to put on some John Phillips Sousa and go march around in the yard!
Awesome suggestion...🙂
Your videos are friggen great. Thanks..
Back in the 90s visiting my brother out at China lake naval weapons testing center. They had six firebees sitting in a old hangar. With two more outside.
Thank You' you just increased my knowledge of early drone technology expediently ( most was top secret)
As always informative and entertaining. Slightly spoilt by the inclusion of footage of the V1 flying bomb @2:56 ??? 🤔🙂
How in the world could they build such good drones in a time where cameras where black and white?
Amazing stuff
Color cameras date from at least WWII. But recon photos were usually B/W due to better resolution, so smaller details could be seen.
Am I the only one who notices the distinct similarity between the early model drones & the German V1, not to mention its launch method?? If I didn't know any better, you'd think some German aviation professionals defected to the U.S. after WWII & shared their designs & knowledge w/us.
*Hope you're picking up the sarcasm b/c I'm layin' it on pretty thick, ha.
One of the best on CZcams
You are a content machine. I’m not complaining though, love all your channels
Had not heard of this aircraft. Great story.
V-1 video, how nice.
Thanks, this was great!
The best part of this vid is watching the current war...
It's weird that our stuff works and CCCP is STILL trying to catch up to 60s tech 🤗
Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up for support
Helpful and informative
Another fantastic video👍
Good content. Thanks for posting.
The spirit of St Louis was built by Ryan airlines after Ryan sold out to his partner who understand was a jerk. then Ryan started the new company Ryan aeronautical. My dad worked almost 20 years for them and I did almost 14.
somewhere in the house I got a picture of the receipt that Ryan airlines gave her got for the spirit of St Louis. also got some pics copies of copies of copies of copies... of the spirit flying over a part of the San Diego harbor North Island area I believe.
Loved this video and all your content
I seriously want to fly one of those. Even if I have to straddle the damn thing.
Thanks DS
Now if someone could just build a Fighter Plane version of this.......................................................
One of those " Well I'll be damned . That works better than expected " designs .
01:58 that is the footage of a B-26 Marauder, not to be confused with the A-26 Invader (later renamed B-26) or JD-1 Invader as per the US Navy nomenclature.
About ten years ago the Air & Space magazine had a feature article about Fire Bee. It included information about recon flights over North Vietnam by Fire Bee's.
You guys should do a video on Burt Rutans A-10 warthog replacement they built a prototype of it had a General Dynamics rotating gun but the gas system was designed to exit in a special way not to shift the plane. I forget the name but if you look up that info you will find it easy - Burt Rutan is the designer who won the nasa X Prize sending someone to orbit using a totally new style vehicle. He’s worth doing a video about for sure!
Burt Rutan's Spaceship One was only suborbital. The Ansari X-Prize conditions stipulated the vehicle be capable of flying above the Karman Line (100 km) and repeat the exercise within a 24 period, demonstrating rapid reusability.
After years of studying aviation history, I never even heard anything of this.
So cool
Happy 420 🎉
Cool man!
my brain keeps autocorrecting it to "frisbee" , even if i stare directly at the Firebee text.
The "11,000 pound rocket assisted takeoff bottle" has to refer to the thrust and not the weight of the booster.
I worked there and remember the Firebee well.
Its amazing that the US military can get so much use out of all these 50's designs, yet cant turn out anything but controversy in the last 20 years.
I genuinely feel like these would make for badass "Kit Planes", if some sort of landing gear could be attached!
I'm sure their aeronautics and sensor package is sizeable and it's removal would free up enough space (and weight) for a cockpit to be added. Even better, if the chute system could be kept!
Alas, I accept the fact that it would never be allowed. Mainly for it being so small and fast, that it'd undoubtedly be deemed "a major accident waiting to happen", but I nevertheless stand by my claim that it'd be the perfect kit jet!🤘
I wish I could post pictures on here because I just took pictures of the one they had here in lakeland, FL sun N' Fun airshow. Such an amazing feet of engineering. Especially for when it was built and for its services life and adaptability. I know Germany had the first dumb drones. But I believe we perfected it a long time ago. To my understanding.
For some reason I read Frisbee
that was so cool
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Those are V1s, not firebees at 2.56 and the next couple of shots.
You need to do a piece about the ones used for reconnaissance, and the CH-3s doing MARS.
Great overview, I'd like to know more about it's performance in the attack role. Decent amount of ordnance hanging off those wings.
Pretty Color....🔥
You need to do a video on how these became the tomcats in Vietnam Not to be mistaken with the f 14
Never heard of the Firebee until now.
Firebees were tried as photo-recon drones over Vietnam, Cambodia, and parts of China, where a manned photo recon was considered too dangerous, and Satellites weren't quite up to par yet.