Teledyne-Ryan YQM-98A Compass Cope

The YQM-98A was designed in 1973 for an Air Force competition to select a drone for high altitude signals intelligence. Both the YQM-98A and the Boeing designed YQM-94A began testing in 1974. During the tests the Teledyne drone set what was then a record for unmanned, unrefueled flight duration with a time of 28 hours 11 minutes and 12 seconds. Despite this and the fact that the YQM-98A had actually out performed the YQM-94A, Boeing was awarded the contract. This became a moot point however in 1977 when the entire program was canceled.