Culver TD2C-1 Turkey
Culver Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1943 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Culver TD2C-1, nicknamed the Turkey, was a radio-controlled aerial target drone developed for the US Navy during World War II, based on the civil Culver Cadet light aircraft and used to train anti-aircraft gunners.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Radio-controlled aerial target drone
- Unmanned — 0 crew
- Derived from Culver Cadet light aircraft
A small low-wing monoplane of light aircraft proportions with a single piston engine, distinguished from manned types by the absence of a cockpit canopy and the presence of radio control antennas.
Specifications
- The Culver TD2C-1 Turkey has a length of 5.7 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.2 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 282 km/h (175 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Culver produced a series of target drones for the US military during the war, with the TD series intended for Navy use. The TD2C-1 entered service as a training aid to give shipboard and shore-based gunners practice against realistic, manoeuvrable aerial targets without risking piloted aircraft.
Variants
The TD2C-1 was preceded by the XTD3C-1 and XTD4C-1 experimental variants; related Culver drones for the Army Air Forces were designated PQ-8 and PQ-14.
Where you'll see it
Used by the US Navy for anti-aircraft gunnery training during and after World War II; expendable drones of this type were routinely destroyed in exercises.
Related aircraft
- Consolidated P4Y-2K Privateer
- de Havilland Mosquito PR Mk XVI
- Boeing XPBB-1 Sea Ranger
- Interstate TDR-1
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