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Beechcraft QU-22B

Description
  Manufacturer:Beechcraft
  Base model:U-22
  Designation:QU-22
  Version:B
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1952-Present
  Basic role:Utility
  Modified Mission:Radio controlled drone

Specifications
Not Yet Available

Known serial numbers
69-7693 / 69-7705, 70-1535 / 70-1548, 71-37586 / 71-37596


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Rich Chapman
 Minden, NV
I flew the A7E Corsair II off the USS Ranger 1970-1971. VA113 Stingers. My wingman & I were fired on by a SAM from inside the DMZ north. We were a little south at the time. Very early morning through a thin overcast. They didn't lock on us until after the SAM was launched. Managed to evade it by flying head on in to it & then breaking hard. It went off after it passed by, but the shrapnel can't hit you because the differential speed is about 1800 mph. I did feel the shockwave. I recall hearing a warning besides my ECM gear in the cockpit that may have been transmitted from one of you fine fellows. It would have been some time in early 1971. No SAMs had been fired for the 10 months prior so I was told at the debrief on the ship. Anyway, thank you for your service. I still had all bombs onboard after the incident & we checked to be sure everything was ok. After lowering the gear it wouldn't retract, so I had to bingo to Da Nang to land fully loaded & way over gross. The airplane couldn't hold altitude with the gear down & you can't jettison bombs with the gear down. Very exciting.

I built and am flying a VANs RV7A now.
08/01/2015 @ 11:11 [ref: 69189]
 Bill Falconer
 Sierra Vista, AZ
I was the Beech instructor pilot (along with Larry Newby) who took the first class through their Bonanza training at the Beech factory in SEP1968. I've always wondered where these guys were now....I ran into Maj Schroeder at Fort Walton Beach....he passed away a year later. They trained on stock Bonanzas, non turbo. Great bunch......maybe one day they'll learn how to spell my last name.....
01/29/2015 @ 13:38 [ref: 68910]
 David Melick
 Gulf Breeze, FL
I was part of the first trained and deployed with the QU-22B. There was more than 1 which had oil problems. That was the main problem they had. At high altitudes the oil pressure would drop and the engine would freeze up. The Pilots sat in the plane waiting for the engine to freeze and then it was their job to glide it back to NKP. Most Pilots hated this plane and you can't blame them. The wingspan is 8 feet longer than the normal Beachcraft model, so it was a fair glider. Any other problems were usually related to there being poor to no electricity when the engine froze.
08/11/2014 @ 03:43 [ref: 68598]
 Paul Bernard
 , AR
The 6908th was my Unit at NKP from March 1972 -1973. The QU-22 was the platform for our Compass Flag Mission. We intercepted the NVA comms along the Trail and developed many target frags as a result. This was very good intel and we were able to decode all their "mail". I was on duty when Vampire 23 ( I believe this is right) went down on Laos in August of 1972.

Our unit was composed of Air Force Vietnamese linguists many of whom had flown the intercept mission out of Da Nang before coming to NKP. We also had many RC-135M veterans in the unit.

The pallet on the QU-22 was very high tech for its day. We could downlink over 20 encrypted channels - separate intercept frequencies. Everything from a little FM radio in a dump truck to regular HF traffic.

This operation did a great job of target location.

When the QU-22 was grounded we switched to an EC-130.

Our unit also had a pallet on the U-2 that covered the activity "up north" and provided real time TAC Air and SAM warnings. Our call sign on guard was T-BALL.

Some of you guys probably remember it.

As for me, I was a linguist but my real specialty was SAM site location and warning.

God Bless You all who flew the QU-22 - single engine, single pilot, IFR at night - WOW !
06/10/2014 @ 12:24 [ref: 68508]
 Jim Burgess
 Youngstown, FL
I was told, but cannot verify, that Agent Orange was used to clear the jungle to build the base and used around perimeter to keep it clear. I have no proof. Really would like to know. Have problems associated with it.
04/08/2013 @ 08:01 [ref: 67718]
 Jim Burgess
 Youngstown, FL
I flew the Q Bird out of NKP Thailand in 1972, Call sign Vampire 35. We flew this A/C where it was not designed to go.... 25,000 FEET. Boy was it cold up there!
03/15/2013 @ 06:22 [ref: 67665]
 John Wallace
 , FL
Sgt John Wallace NKP Nov 1970-Nov 1971...APG mechanic....Hello Sgt Marcum..My most vivid memory was the day I did run ups on about nine QU 22's..I seemed to be the only one qualified that day, but we made our mission..lots of problems when they were flown above the 25,000 ft ceiling, b ut I believe the Continental reps made some adjustments on the altitude compensators..great memories and sad memories, especially when we lost a pilot in bad weather..he was a major....
09/27/2012 @ 15:15 [ref: 67258]
 Tony conte
 Haskeii n,j,, NJ
I am a owner of 3 Qu 22 b , one is flying two is apart .the aircraft is a great aircraft. Very strong, it has 375 hp . Climbs great,flys well.it was a 4 year project.from 1999 2004 to get it to fly,also 4000' hours, and a lot of help. The only thing I don,t like is the gas burn ,40 no take off ,25 in cruise and at 6.09 a gallon is tough, but it is a good time. I don.t check my email to much . But you can call. East coast time 9,00. 6,00 m , f, 9738392528' sometime I am late .keep calling ! Thanks , My name is tony.conte
05/21/2012 @ 18:16 [ref: 57553]
 Tony conte
 Haskeii n,j,, NJ
I am a owner of 3 Qu 22 b , one is flying two is apart .the aircraft is a great aircraft. Very strong, it has 375 hp . Climbs great,flys well.it was a 4 year project.from 1999 2004 to get it to fly,also 4000' hours, and a lot of help. The only thing I don,t like is the gas burn ,40 no take off ,25 in cruise and at 6.09 a gallon is tough, but it is a good time. I don.t check my email to much . But you can call. East coast time 9,00. 6,00 m , f, 9738392528' sometime I am late .keep calling ! Thanks , My name is tony.conte
05/21/2012 @ 18:16 [ref: 57552]
 Bill Brown
 , NV
I am one of the original QU22B pilots, Call Sign Vampire 27, stationed at NKP from Aug 70 to Aug 71.

I do not believe Agent Orange was present at NKP partly because there were no spray aircraft stationed at the base.

Does anyone of the Mechanics remember the aircraft number of the first QU22B to crash in Laos. I believe then Major Peach was the pilot who bailed out of the aircraft because of engine failue due to an oil pressure loss. He was rescued from the Trail in Laos the following morning and continued flying. I believe that loss occurred in Nov or Dec 1970. I know the Aircraft number of the Feb 71 deadstick crash in Viet Nam.
05/18/2012 @ 07:21 [ref: 57493]

 

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