1970 to 1992


usa 6514th Test Squadron

US Air Force

6514 TS




6514th Test Squadron
Activated in 1970 at Edwards AFB to support flight testing the Ryan AQM-34Q Firebee reconnaissance drone. Helicopters were fitted as MARS (Mid-Air Retrieval System) . Moved to Hill AFB in 1973. Redesignated 514th Flight Test Squadron in 1992




1973-1977 tested BQM-34 B,M,L drones also 34R, and 34F both air and ground launch, dco and rco training for same, also testing on avionics and recovery systems

1975-1979 at Hill AFB H-53 Helicopters performed drone recovery missions over test range using MARS system.

There was a C-130 A model for air deployment of the drones

1980-1992, we were involved with testing support for several different projects: Emitter Homing Technology utilizing the XBQM-106 airframe and a phased array seeker head designed by MIT's Lincoln Labs. Tacit Rainbow 750 - a launch and loiter munition similar to a cruise missile. We also flew AQM-34 drones against several new radar systems to simulate Russian Cruise missiles for testing and evaluating those new radar systems: New early warning radar systems including OTHB (Over The Horizon Backscatter), and the Navy's AEGIS cruisers. The AQM-34 drones were launched from the wing pylons of C-130 aircraft fitted with tracking and control systems for the drones. We also once flew a drone equipped with high resolution cameras and scanners as part of a Red Flag exercise to demonstrate real time battlefield assessment.

Jan 1991, spent 4 years with the 6514TS and 514TS. We had several C-130's. I believe 4. Two were set up to do the AQM-34/BQM-34 launches. Two were just trash haulers. tail numbers were 979, 526, 857, and last one I do not remember. 526 was an A model that went to the Hill AFB museum. We also had a couple H-53's configured for MARS. And two H-1's that were really old for use on the UTTR to recover the drones. After returning from a TDY in Turkey in 1994, we received an AWACS C-130 from the Coast Guard. It ended up going to Edwards. I got shipped off to Spangdahlem AB Germany a couple months later. Then they shut it down. Had the civilians working on the H-1's and one of the C-130's that carried the drones. We maintained the H-53's and 3 of the C-130's. Have many of the patches shown still stiched to my uniforms.




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  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
1973/92Hill AFBKHIF
1970/73Edwards AFBKEDW



helicopter   Models


Years Models
1970/92 S-65 H-53
1970/92 S-61 H-3





6514 TS List of helicopters


C/N VersionBuiltIn this Org In other Org
61-506 ch-3c 1963 62-12581 : del USAF as CH-3C 62-12581 22Nov63; xfer 1550th ATTW, Hill AFB, UT 73 74;+
61-565 ch-3c 1966 65-12790 : USAF d/d 17dic66; 100th SRW SAC; 1968 Da Nang, Vietnam; 1972 Nakhon Phanom+
61-544 ch-3c 1965 65-5693 : Sikorsky S-61R, c/n 61-544, ff?; del USAF as CH-3C 65-5693, 10Dec65; conv +
: 1972-1979, MARS Helicopter asg 6514 TEST SQ, Hill AFB
65-142 w/o 2003 hh-53c 67-14993 : -1979, mars helicopter at 6514th Test Sq at Hill AFB. Had TM gear for flig+
65-184 w/o 1986 hh-53c 68-10354 : USAF; 6514th TS w/o 30oct86
17104 hh-1h 70-2460 : USAF; Was MAC (TBD); later flew at Det 4 37th ARRS MAC USAF LRAFB, AR; tra+
17114 hh-1h 70-2470 : USAF d/d 23mar73 to 1550th ATTW (Aircrew Training and Test Wing) Hill AFB;+
17128 hh-1h 70-2484 : Was MAC (TBD); later flew at Det 4 37th ARRS USAF MAC LRAFB, AR; believe w+
17129 hh-1h 70-2485 : USAF; MAC (Location TBD); later flew with Det 4 37th ARRS (MAC, USAF, LRAF+







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