The Sopwith Aerial Target is known as what milestone in UAS history?

• A. Prototype jet fighter
• B. First full-scale remotely piloted aircraft
• C. Early UAV used in Vietnam
• D. Reconnaissance drone of the 1960s

Answer: (B)

Remotely piloted flight marks an early leap in unmanned aviation, showing that a complete airframe could be flown from the ground without a pilot aboard. The Sopwith Aerial Target was built in World War I as a full-size aircraft used as a remote-controlled target for anti-aircraft gunnery practice. Ground operators controlled its movements, proving that an entire aircraft could be guided remotely. That milestone—a full-scale aircraft flown without a person on board—lays the foundation for later UAVs and drones. The other options refer to jet prototypes or aircraft from much later eras, which don’t describe this WWI remote-piloting achievement.