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Beechcraft QU-22 Pave Eagle

The QU-22 was a Beech 36/A36 Bonanza modified during the Vietnam War to be an electronic monitoring signal relay aircraft, developed under the project name “Pave Eagle” for the United States Air Force.

 An AiResearch turbocharged, reduction-geared Continental GTSIO-520-G engine was used to reduce its noise signature, much like the later Army-Lockheed YO-3A.

These aircraft were intended to be used as unmanned drones to monitor seismic and acoustic sensors dropped along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and report troop and supply movements.

When the project was put into operation in 1968, however, the aircraft were all flown by pilots of the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron Detachment 1, call sign “Vampire”.

A separate operation “Compass Flag” monitored the General Directorate of Rear Services along the Ho Chi Minh Trail linking to the 6908th security squadron.

Six YQU-22A prototypes (modifications of the Beech 33 Debonair) were combat-tested in 1968, and two were lost during operations, with a civilian test pilot killed.

Twenty-seven QU-22Bs were modified, 13 in 1969 and 14 in 1970, with six lost in combat.

Two Air Force pilots were killed in action.

All of the losses were due to engine failures or effects of turbulence.

A large cowl bump above the spinner was faired in for an AC current generator, and higher weight set of Baron wings and spars were used to handle the 236-US-gallon (890 l) fuel load.

Specifications

Crew

One

Length

27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)

Wingspan

33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)

Height

8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)

Wing area

181 sq ft (16.8 m2)

Aspect ratio

6.2

Airfoil

Root

NACA 23016.5

Tip

NACA 23012

Empty weight

2,517 lb (1,142 kg)

Gross weight

3,650 lb (1,656 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Continental GTSIO-520-G,

285 hp (213 kW)

Propellers

Three bladed Hartzell Propeller,

6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) diameter

Performance

Cruise speed

176 kn (203 mph, 326 km/h)

Range

716 nmi (824 mi, 1,326 km

Ferry range

930 nmi (1,070 mi, 1,720 km)

Service ceiling

18,500 ft (5,600 m)

Rate of climb

1,230 ft/min (6.2 m/s)

Wing loading

20.16 lb/sq ft (98.4 kg/m2)

Avionics

Garmin G1000

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