Ryan AQM-91 Firefly

Ryan Aeronautical · United States · first flew 1968 · reconnaissance aircraft

The Ryan AQM-91 Firefly was an American high-altitude reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle developed during the Cold War for deep penetration of denied airspace. It was designed to replace manned reconnaissance flights over hostile territory.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Jet engine buried in fuselage with dorsal intake
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

High-altitude US reconnaissance drone of the late 1960s
Long straight high-aspect-ratio wings for loiter
Jet engine buried in fuselage with dorsal intake

Distinctive long, straight high-aspect-ratio wings give a sailplane-like appearance despite the jet powerplant. The slender fuselage and lack of cockpit canopy immediately identify it as an unmanned vehicle.

Specifications

The Ryan AQM-91 Firefly has a length of 10.4 m (34 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.5 m (48 ft).
Its maximum speed is 815 km/h (506 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed under the secret 'Compass Arrow' programme, the AQM-91 first flew in 1968 and demonstrated the ability to operate at extreme altitudes. The programme was cancelled in 1971 before operational deployment, partly due to the emergence of satellite reconnaissance.

Variants

Only prototype/pre-production examples were built; no operational variant entered service.

Where you'll see it

Never entered operational service; all development took place as a classified USAF programme.

Related aircraft

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