Naval Aircraft Factory TDN-1
Naval Aircraft Factory · United States · first flew 1942 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Naval Aircraft Factory TDN-1 was one of the first US assault drones, a twin-engine monoplane designed to deliver a torpedo or bomb load against enemy ships without risking a pilot.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.28 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- twin-engine assault drone
- low mid-wing
- TV-guided attack
Twin-engine low-mid wing monoplane with a blunt nose housing the TV camera; the absence of cockpit glazing and the camera nose are definitive recognition features.
Specifications
- The Naval Aircraft Factory TDN-1 has a length of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 0-1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by the Naval Aircraft Factory in the early years of WWII as part of the US Navy's assault drone program, the TDN-1 used non-strategic materials including wood and plastics to conserve aluminum. It was guided by a TV camera in the nose, making it a pioneer of precision-guided weapons.
Variants
The improved Interstate TDR-1 followed as a production version built by Interstate Aircraft; the TDN-1 itself was limited to development and evaluation aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated extensively but not widely deployed operationally; the TDR-1 successor saw limited combat use in the Pacific in 1944.
Related aircraft
- Naval Aircraft Factory PBN-1 Nomad
- Naval Aircraft Factory XN5N
- Naval Aircraft Factory SBN-1
- Naval Aircraft Factory SON-1 Seagull
- Boeing XPBB-1 Sea Ranger
- Culver TD2C-1 Turkey
- IAR 47
- Interstate TDR-1
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