Historic Military Aircraft Conversions Reveal Early Roots of Modern Drone Technology

A fascinating new book uncovers how the U.S. military’s decades-long practice of converting manned aircraft into remotely piloted vehicles laid the groundwork for today’s drone technology. Author Frederick A. Johnsen details this largely overlooked aspect of aviation history in “Q-Birds: American Manned Aircraft as Drones.”

The military’s drone conversion programs, which began in the 1920s, transformed iconic aircraft like the B-17 Flying Fortress and F-16 Fighting Falcon into unmanned testbeds and targets. These early experiments with remote piloting technology helped pioneer capabilities that would later become essential to modern drone systems.

Perhaps most intriguing was Project Banshee, a classified Cold War initiative that aimed to convert B-29 Superfortresses into remotely controlled nuclear delivery platforms. This ambitious project highlighted both the military’s forward-thinking approach to unmanned systems and the technical challenges of the era.

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The breadth of aircraft converted to drone configurations is remarkable, spanning nearly every major military aircraft type from World War II through the Cold War. Fighter aircraft like the F-86 Sabre and F-4 Phantom II found new life as autonomous test platforms, while bombers such as the B-47 Stratojet were repurposed for various unmanned missions.

Johnsen’s firsthand research at drone conversion facilities since the 1970s provides unprecedented insight into these programs. His documentation includes the fate of the last Boeing B-17G manufactured in Seattle, which ended its service life as a QB-17 drone target.

The book’s extensive photographic collection, featuring 225 images and technical drawings, reveals how military engineers adapted conventional aircraft for remote operation decades before modern drone technology emerged. These early conversion programs helped develop control systems and operational procedures that would influence future unmanned aircraft designs.

While today’s military drones are purpose-built for autonomous operation, these converted aircraft served as crucial stepping stones in the evolution of unmanned flight. Their operational use helped establish fundamental concepts still relevant to modern Department of Defense drone programs.

The historical significance of these aircraft conversions extends beyond their immediate military applications. The technical challenges overcome in adapting manned aircraft for remote operation helped advance flight control systems, data links, and autonomous navigation technologies that now form the backbone of both military and civilian drone operations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​