AIRSPEED QUEEN WASP

AIRSPEED AS.30 QUEEN WASP - Designed under the direction of A Hessell Tiltman at Portsmouth, the Airspeed Queen Wasp originated to the requirements of Specification Q.32/35 for a radio-controlled target aircraft to be operated as a landplane or a seaplane for live ground-to-air gunnery practice. First of two prototypes (K8887), powered by a 350 hp Cheetah IX engine, flown on June 11, 1937, as a landplane and second (K8888) on October 19, 1937, as a seaplane. Fitted with R1127 radio-control equipment plus provision for a safety pilot. Contract for 65 production Airspeed Queen Wasps with Cheetah XIIs placed in 1939 but reduced to 12 in 1940 and only five of these completed and delivered, the first (P5441) being flown on March 29, 1940; a second contract for 258 also cancelled. Projected AS.38 communications variant and AS.50 trainer to specification T.24/40 were unbuilt derivatives.

Max speed, 172 mph (277 km/h) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m). Gross weight, landplane, 3,500 lb (1,588 kg), seaplane, 3,800 lb (1,724 kg). Span, 31 ft 0 in (9.46 m). Length, landplane, 24ft 4 in (7.42 m), seaplane, 29ft 1 in (8.86 m).