4-06961-C was Q11817-2 Speedlink 147SB Jan 21 1969

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    Image from the Ryan Aeronautical Negative Collection

    Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

    tlwmdbt, rstaff3, excellentzebu1050, and mambo1935 added this photo to their favorites.

    1. TVL1970 3 months ago | reply

      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. 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 January 1969, this particular drone may very well be a Ryan Model 147SB modified in a configuration that would late 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.

    2. excellentzebu1050 3 months ago | reply

      amazing !

    3. mambo1935 3 months ago | reply

      grace!

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