Ryan YQM-98
Ryan Aeronautical · United States · first flew 1974 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Ryan YQM-98 was a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed by Ryan Aeronautical as a competitor in the US Air Force Compass Cope programme. It featured an extremely high-aspect-ratio wing optimised for sustained flight at high altitude.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.68 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-altitude long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance drone competition entry
- Very long straight wing with high aspect ratio for altitude efficiency
- Competing against Boeing YQM-94 in USAF Compass Cope programme
A slender fuselage with exceptionally long straight wings — the 24.75 m span on a sub-12 m fuselage gives an immediately distinctive high-aspect-ratio glider-like silhouette.
Specifications
- The Ryan YQM-98 has a length of 11.68 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24.75 m (81 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1974, the YQM-98 competed against Boeing's YQM-94 B-Gull in the Compass Cope fly-off. Boeing's design was selected over Ryan's, and the YQM-98 programme was cancelled; the technology contributed to later HALE drone developments.
Variants
A single prototype was completed for the Compass Cope competition.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; lost the Compass Cope competition to the Boeing YQM-94.
Related aircraft
- Ryan AQM-91 Firefly
- Ryan XV-5 Vertifan
- Ryan Model 147
- Ryan XV-8 Fleep
- AstroFlight Sunrise
- Tupolev Tu-141
- Boeing E-3A Sentry
- Boeing YQM-94 B-Gull
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