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Old 18th Nov 2013, 14:14
  #64 (permalink)  
Lima Juliet
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: UK
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That is why it is incorrect to use the word 'Drone' for RPAS/UAS such as Reaper or Watchkeeper. The etymology for the word 'Drone' lay with unmanned target towing aircraft; one of the first being the De Havilland Queen Bee. The aircraft used to fly at a fixed RPM flying up and down past the air-air artillery guns and it is believed that a visiting USN person coined the name 'Drone' during world war 2.

History and etymology lesson over - journos please note.

LJ

PS.

Drone is one of the oldest*official*designations*for*remotely*controlled aircraft in the American military lexicon. in 1935, when the chief of naval*operations* Adm. William Standley, visited Britain, he was given a demonstration of the Royal Navy’s new DH 82B Queen Bee remotely controlled aircraft that was used for anti-aircraft gunnery practice. On his return, Standley assigned an office, Cmdr. Delmer Fahrney at the Radion*Division*of the Naval Research Laboratory, to develop a*similar*system*for US Navy gunnery training. Fahrney adopted the name drone to refer to these aircraft in homage to the Queen Bee. Drone became the official US Navy designation for target drones for many decades.
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