Culver TD2C-1 ‘Turkey’ (Frank-Airmodel, Resin)

TYPE: Radio-controlled target drone

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only or radio-controlled

POWER PLANT: Franklin O-300-11 air-cooled engine, rated at 150 hp

PERFORMANCE: 180 mph

COMMENT: The Culver TDC-2 and TD2C-1 radio-controlled drones were Navy duplicates of the USAAF Culver PQ-8A and PQ-14A targets. The PQ-8 was a larger and more powerful derivative of the commercial Culver LCA sports plane. A single PQ-8 was converted to the new configuration and tested by the USAAF as the Culver XPQ-14. In 1942 the US Navy ordered 200 TDC-2, designated ‘Turkey’. In 1943 Culver introduced a new target drone powered by a 150 hp Flanklin O-300-11 engine and with a retractable undercarriage.  Like the PQ-8, it was flown manned for ferry or check-out flights, or by radio-control from the ground as a target drone. Of a total of 1,348 PQ-14As built for the USAAF, 1,201 were transferred to the US Navy as TD2C-1 (Ref.: 24).