Aircraft of the ADF – N11 GAF Jindivik

N11 – Gaf Jindivik

Both of the RAN N10 and N11 allocations were for pilotless target aircraft. N10 was allotted to Northrop KD2R-5 Shelduck radio-controlled target planes, which were initially procured in 1963 as targets for gunnery practice for ships at sea. These small targets, with a wingspan of only 4m and a maximum weight of 148kg, had a maximum speed of 222mph (355km/h), and could be operated up to 23,000ft. They were powered by a McCulloch O-100-1 four-cylinder two-stroke air-cooled engine. The Shelduck could either be flown from ashore or launched from ships. Having an endurance of one hour, the drone was recovered by parachute if damaged by gunfire or on completion of the exercise.

The initial batches of aircraft were for 10 drones (which retained manufacturer’s serials between 7119 and 7723), for 20 (serialled N10-1 to N10-20), and then a further 10 (N10-101 to N10-110). As targets were lost, more were ordered and the type remained in service until 1974, with RAN procurement totalling 53 targets. The Shelduck had proved successful as a cost-effective gunnery target, and over 400 were eventually acquired by the British services.

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