"lfk f; \"A Lt. - Airborne Systems

\ \
10'
\ i
26'
MQM.74C
/" /\ ~~~~~
;: :y ... . ..., "
L--
-- 2. 8 Fe Dfa
t Chu
.1
1\ji:
Impact
CN.habl.
lVose CO".
:JOFtOla
Pallchute
Keel
,"M.'
Figure Recovery CQl1figurations for MQM.14C
and KDR.
for lightweight vehicles where emergency high speed
parachute deplayment is not required and where
relatively large parachute openirg and impact loads of
approximately 10 to 20 g s can be accepted.
u.s. Army/Fairchild USD. 5 Reconnaissance RPV.
The Aircraft Division of the Fairch. ld Corporatio:l in
the early 1960's developed for the US Army, a reconnaissance
drone with a maximum speed of 500 knots
a launch weight of 7800 Ibs and a side-looking aerial
radar, as the prime sensor. The recovery system concept
was determined by the fOilowing requireme1ts:
The radar sensor necessitated limiting the parachute
forces to 3 g s and the landing deceleratiQn
to 8
Direct ground contact of the drone had to be
avoided to prevent str'Jctural damage when landing
in rough terrain,
The recovery system must be deployed from a
compartment in front of a large vertical stabiliLer.
A high speed recovery system, covering the total
flight envelope, was required for the developmen t
High t test phase.
The recovery system was fully qualified in a series of
recovery system tests 1 and drone flights.
cluster of two 78-ft diameter conical fullextended.skirt
parachutes lowered the vehicle with a
j,mding weig'it of 4800 Ibs at a rate of descent o' 22
fps. Airbags were used for ground impact attenuation.
Figure 1. 2 shows the parachute and airbag system.
70.
1T,
T2.
f3.
Drogve Gun SIu9
Pilat Chute (2. Ft D o Ringsfot)
Deployment Bag for Extractor Parachure
Extractor Parachute (7 Ft D o Ringslot)
Bridle for Extractor Parachute
Deployment Bag for Main Parachute
Main Parachute (78 Ft D o Conical
Full Extended Skirtl
Riser
Figure 1. USD.5 Recovery System
Parachute Compartment in Fuse(age
Airbag Compartment in Wing
Forward Air/:ag (1)
Aft Airba; (21
Non-deflatIng Nose Bag