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English: 330-PS-7779 (USN 688065): The KDA-1 Firebee Drone, built by Ryan Aeronautical Company of San Diego, is undergoing evaluation tests conducted by the Bureau of Aeronautics at the Naval Air Material Test Center, Point Mugu, California. The Firebee is air launched and remotely controlled from a ground station. After being launched from a “mother” plane at 15,000 feet, the target drone will fly for 90 minutes at a speed of 500 miles per hour up to an altitude of 30,000 feet. Upon the termination of its flight, the Firebee can be recovered by a two-stage parachute system which operates automatically or by command. This recovery for repeated use, coupled with the initial low cost, makes the pilotless Firebee more economical than piloted aircraft converted to Drone operations. The Firebee weighs almost a ton, is 17 feet, three inches long; five feet, ten inches high and has a wing span of 11 feet, two inches. It is powered by a J-44 turbojet engine. Reflectors, which are sensitive to radar, have been incorporated in the Firebee to give gun crews an image on their radars singular to that which is reflected by larger aircraft. Its use as target permits unrestricted angles of approach and fire, thereby offering a realistic missile and gunnery training, March 29, 1956. Shown: Since the U.S. Navy’s KDA-1 “Firebee” will see extensive operational use over water areas, special floatation features are incorporated in it to ensure recovery of the targets after they have been parachuted into the sea. (2/18/2015).