wb9omc@ea.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) (02/23/90)
From: wb9omc@ea.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) FYI, the GTD-21 drone for the A12/YF12/SR71 (or whatever) was, according to Paul Crickmore, supposed to be used like this: A "mothership" would carry it aloft (much like the ship that got geeked trying to release one) and drive it up to starting speed. After release it would accelerate (!) and fly across the target (read = USSR, typically). Assuming a west to east course, the drone is speculated to have ejected film capsules and then obliterated itself as it was apparently not equipped to ditch and be recovered in the Pacific, nor did it have any capability to be air-recovered. I'd have to check the book again, but I think that was the general idea. It sounded to me like this little fellow was capable of some incredible speed.... BTW, after "the accident" the GTD-21 did NOT come to an immediate end. There are photos of them mounted in pairs on either side pylon of a B52. Crickmore suggested that this may have even been used operationally but infrequently and he seemed to have some evidence that there were too many of them that didn't work right; not explaining just what that meant. THEN they were shipped out to the desert to rot. I'd really like to see some more publication about the GTD-21 of hard factual information..... Duane