KDA-4 Firebee; Remote controlled missile bait for the RCAF

[@billestew7535]

2 of these babies slung under a Lancaster would make a great model

[@polyus_studios]

That would be awesome. You should make it!

[@nzs316]

It would be grand to have any airman to share some first hand memories of this.

[@jamesmorgan4596]

Your videos helped inspire me to make 3d concept models for the military (just a hobby of course). I'm a 3d modeler by trade so if you ever want a model of something I can make it for your videos. Maybe a more in-depth breakdown of something? Just credit is all I ask for. Regardless I enjoy these videos very much and always look forward to a new one!

[@polyus_studios]

That's awesome! We should totally connect. The models I make aren't very good. Email me and we'll talk!

[@denniswofford]

Welcome back Polyus. We've missed you.

[@demongroudon6063]

this channel is such a hidden gem. I love it

[@radarmike6713]

The test site outside of Cold Lake is called PLER (Primrose Lake Evaluation Range) they had 9 highly zoomable cameras. (Had to replace all the BNC connectors on them in 02 for OJT) They even had a tug boat to recover these drones and other ordinances. Famous unofficial summer parties happened on this tug back in the day. I believe it went our of service I nude RCN in the late 80's or early 90's Neat you did the firebee video. Made me remember my OJT months at PLER and the history I learnt about the testing there. But as always...another AMAZING videos on the RCAF history. Thank you sir.

[@polyus_studios]

Thanks for sharing these great memories with us! Hearing them is my favorite part of making this channel

[@jimsvideos7201]

One notable feat for that aircraft was an American-operated bait flight over Viet Nam to capture a recording of the SA-2 radar fuze signal so a countermeasure could be created.

[@assessor1276]

Oh boy….another Polyus video! Excellent for a Saturday evening!

[@polyus_studios]

Enjoy!

[@ELMS]

As usual, a terrific video. But I kept wondering what happened to the Lancasters.

[@polyus_studios]

As far as I know they were put back in storage. Scrapped at some point after that.

[@hugedesert8630]

Hi. Thanks...your videos remind me of the ones we used to find on the History Channel. HC now sucks but at least we have you to fallback on. Heck you even meet Can on rules

[@polyus_studios]

Hahaha thanks! Old school HC wings marathons were my favorite

[@314299]

Top notch content as always!

[@lau4893]

I miss Polyus videos...

[@nzs316]

The first few seconds in I thought it was “Stop action”!.

[@mattrika4874]

Another very interesting, well produced video! You guys/gals certainly never disappoint! Thanks 👍

[@polyus_studios]

Thanks! And it's just one guy actually! Labour of love

[@m.pearce3273]

A fabulous video yet again you guys really produce the best Canadian Videos on these fascinating flying machines 🎉🎉❤❤

[@dcctech5822]

Once again you have given us a very interesting and detailed video. I am fascinated by the level of Canadian aircraft innovation and history which most Canadians are probably unaware of. Thanks again!

[@polyus_studios]

Cheers my pleasure!

[@raztaz826]

Neat! Why couldn't they be re-used more than 15 times?

[@polyus_studios]

Airframe fatigue I think. They were built as cheaply as possible so no one would mind blowing them up.

[@40cal2]

LETS GOOOOOO ANOTHER AMAZING VIDEO KEEP UP THE WORK!!!

[@polyus_studios]

THANKS!

[@nate7079]

More videos please! Love you channel!

[@Alwaysoutdoorsbushcraft]

You sir do as good as a job a mark felton , but about canadian aviation. Thanks for the content poly

[@polyus_studios]

Thank you kindly

[@bakhen]

Yay! Another Pulyus video. It is always going to be a good day when one of your videos shows up in my subscriptions. Thanks for another great one!

[@polyus_studios]

My pleasure!

[@patallen5095]

The Model 147s are gorgeous.....especially sinister looking with painted shark's mouth! Used extensively in North Vietnam and over China! Beauty!

[@johnandrews3568]

You knocked it out of the park again. VERY well done!

[@alan-sk7ky]

Firebee 2, Firefly, Lightning bug. the whole series of developments deserve the Polyus treatment :-) but outwith the scope of the channel.

[@polyus_studios]

I thought about covering the follow up Firebees in this video but the more I dug the more I found. It would make a really interesting video but it would take a really long time to make properly and I still have so many Canadian stuff to cover. If you get the chance I'd recommend the Evergreen air museum near Portland, it has some great Firebees hanging from the roof.

[@malakiblunt]

Was just thinking yeasterday hadnt sceen a new one from you in a while - Nice

[@dmacpher]

It’s a good day when Polyus posts!

[@jb6027]

3:42 Or mostly launched from the Douglas B-26 (as shown) or later the C-130

[@polyus_studios]

oops yeah good catch!

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

A new Polyus video? Hell yea!

[@someguy872]

Another hidden gem channel!

[@matthewdupuis232]

Another educational video, thanks so much!

[@polyus_studios]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BrianZinchuk]

Have you ever done the Link trainer used for the BCATP during WWII? It was an early simulator.

[@polyus_studios]

Yeah maybe. I've been trying to focus on Cold War era stuff but might dip into some obscure WW2 topics at some point. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@BrianZinchuk]

@@polyus_studios You mean like back when we had an air force? Over 500 fighters, and pilots for all of them with a population less than half our current one? Now we can't even find pilots for the few planes we have. Its sad. And I wore the uniform as a reservist, too. CIC for seven years.

[@CAphotos]

Ryan was still manufacturing Firebees for the US Navy and US Air Force into the 1990s.

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

If you are making a vid about the Arrow maybe it would be good to devote time on the USSR espionage alleged to have been a problem at AVRO, and throughout the program, and the implications for future Cdn. access to advanced defence products.

[@DrSmallarms]

just came back to let you know i love the videos you make. i hope you return someday

[@Adriatic1290]

Looks similar to the surveillance drone called the Lightning Bug

[@polyus_studios]

It's version 1 of that drone

[@Adriatic1290]

@@polyus_studios I have the DB-26 Drone Carriers on my flight sim

[@zooot820]

a sad day when the avro arrow program was cancelled. do modern air force’s still use missile bait?

[@ruskiwaffle1991]

come back bro I need to know more about the RCAF

[@MrEMeat-kk9tc]

Too short! I would have watched this for at least 30 minutes. I guess I have to watch it two more times lol

[@joeschenk8400]

I have always liked the Firebee and all its descendants. Thanks for the post.

[@justsayen2024]

👍

[@raynus1160]

Good stuff Brad - always interesting and on point.

[@rgt4848]

I had no idea this thing existed. COOL stuff. Thanks

[@polyus_studios]

Cheers!

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Canadia, like most of the Western World ought to have blanked post war America. The world would be a better place for that.

[@1joshjosh1]

Thank you thank you thank you for another kick a++ video

[@connarcomstock161]

The USAF used these as recon drones in 'Nam as well.

[@milky3494]

polyus where are you my king :(

[@alexandrebelinge8996]

Awesome content!!!❤

[@polyus_studios]

Thank you!! 😁

[@firehawkgamer2409]

Great video. Can you review the CF-18 next time

[@pastorrich7436]

Another well-deserved thumbs up!

[@rob7057]

Great channel and great videos! If you’re looking for ideas for future videos I notice that many of our former fighters end up in “photo reconnaissance” and “Electronic Warfare” roles. I would love to learn more about how those roles and capabilities evolved in the RCAF and how effective the various aircraft were in those roles, with the roles themselves being the focus of the video instead of a single aircraft model . I wonder if we actually had any real world operational capability in these roles and if they were sometimes used as a dumping ground for obsolete aircraft that were actually impractical to use in real world situations.

[@polyus_studios]

Thanks! Check out my Starfighter, CF-5 and Voodoo videos. I talk about how they were used and why in those videos. The recce planes were all planned as such. The Voodoo had one conversion but was used in training only. The T-33 is another one to check out for ECM conversions. Again for training but I haven't made a video about it yet. Canada never gained an operational 'wild weasel' capability as far as I know.

[@leamenrs]

awesome I never knew about this drone

[@robertfritz9916]

I worked at Teledyne-Ryan in the early days of RQ-4A Global Hawk. Many of the senior engineers like Norm Sakamoto (perhaps the real father of modern UAVs), Tom Riley, and many other that had worked on various models of the Firebee. In the days following 9/11, the Firebee was resurrected for service. Some ( I don't remember if it was one or more) were made flight worthy and a C-130 that had been the launch platform was made flight worthy. They were sent to the Middle East and on the first night of Desert Storm the Firebee orbited Bagdad forcing them to ligh up the radars for attack. The Firebee was shot down and paraded before the press as proof the Iranian "victory" that night. We were bought by Northrup Grumman and the "can-do" innovative spirit disappeared. Thans for the video.

[@gryph01]

That's cool that Firebees were reactivated.

[@francoisprenot-guinard5997]

Nice topic and great video 👍

[@camberweller]

Any in Canadian museums?

[@AlbertaHome87]

Excellent video!

[@andycraig7734]

I wonder if Ukraine has obtained any and added kaboom booms.

[@polyus_studios]

They were scrapped 60 years ago so, no Ukraine isn't getting any!

[@j-p6422]

Great video!

[@billcolgan70]

love these video!

[@blackpanda006]

Did the Avro Arrow video get taken down and not the extra footage but the one where its talked about ?

[@polyus_studios]

I haven't made the arrow video yet

[@blackpanda006]

@polyus_studios I could have sworn I've watched your video on it before, I'm losing it lmao

[@polyus_studios]

I've got a script on the go so the video will hopefully be out within the next year or so

[@nzs316]

Woo hoo! Can’t wait…tictok tic tok!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@polyus_studios >>> Great video...👍

[@polyus_studios]

Thanks!