Missile, Surface-to-Air, Lark
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corp.
notes: label: Summary
content: The Lark was an early U.S. Navy surface-to-air, liquid-propellant, rocket-propelled missile built by the Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corporation, and was usually launched from the decks of ships with the help of solid propellant boosters. It carried a 100-pound warhead and had a range of about 38 miles.
label: Summary
content: The design of the Lark began in 1944, but it was not developed in time for use in World War II. It was used extensively from 1946-1950 as a test missile, providing valuable experience to U.S. military personnel in the handling and deployment of missiles. Some flights were made at sea. The Lark was also the first U.S. surface-to-air missile ever to intercept a moving air target. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 1971 by the U.S. Navy.
label: Alternate Name
content: Lark Missile
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
label: Exhibit Station
content: Rockets & Missiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Transferred from U.S. Navy
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19710761000
objectType: label: Type
content: CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Fuselage around motor, aluminum; central section of fuselage, steel; guidance section, aluminum; motor, non-ferrous metal, possible stainless steel; fins, fiberglass and a rigid styrofoam; flaps on fins, wood; tank bolts, steel
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 4 ft. wide x 14 ft. 8 in. long x 1 ft. 6 in. diameter x 6 ft. 3 in. wing span, 1200 lb. (121.92 x 447.04 x 45.72 x 190.5cm, 544.3kg)