A drogue is all very well, but a live aircraft would be all the more interesting to fire at, wouldn't it ?
Sorry to butt in again so soon, Danny, but your comment above inevitably reminded me how every now and again, often around 1 April, official-looking notices used to appear on ship's company notice boards asking for volunteers either for Observers for Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTAs) or, possibly aimed at those less keen on becoming aircrew, Splash Target Coxswains. Even more curiously, there were always a few volunteers, sometimes for both categories, but usually more for PTA Observers, perhaps because of the prospect of flying pay ......
Jack