X-47B UCAS-D gets first trap at NAS Pax River | Video

[Renegade One]

If I had to wager a guess, I'd bet that it would push on time, and probably fly the numbers just as well as any of us do.

…on a Mode I all the way to touchdown, at any rate.

 

[jmcquate]

If I had to wager a guess, I'd bet that it would push on time, and probably fly the numbers just as well as any of us do.

Eh........who's CATC talking to? A guy at a computer? Is the push, pattern, pass flown by a person or are pre-programed?

 

[PropStop]

Well, there IS good news!

With the expansion of UAVs into the fleet, that'll free up more aviators for staff jobs and other "opportunities" to expand our officer experiences.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Eh........who's CATC talking to? A guy at a computer? Is the push, pattern, pass flown by a person or are pre-programed?

Couldn't tell you, though I'm guessing it will be some variation of the current Mode I ACLS like R1 mentioned, and probably altogether quite automated. There would be no reason for it not to be, at least with the technology that we have nowadays.

 

[jmcquate]

I’ll be sold on the technology when it gets aboard on a case 3 pitching deck.

 

[RadicalDude]

Couldn't tell you, though I'm guessing it will be some variation of the current Mode I ACLS like R1 mentioned, and probably altogether quite automated. There would be no reason for it not to be, at least with the technology that we have nowadays.

I heard a rumor that they took an early version of the software to LSO school and had to do some serious rewriting, because it had something like a five second "no waveoff" window prior to trapping that needed to be shortened. So apparently paddles has some level of control. You bet your ass they're gonna hawk that foul line when this thing is recovering.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Yeah, I'm sure there are/will be a lot of kinks to work out of the system. I was there doing air wing CQ (on another airwing's boat mind you) last summer on the HST when VX-23 was flying a converted F/A-18B doing case I stuff with said software/computers. Looked like it went relatively smoothly, of course that being a proven aircraft simply demonstrating that the automated approach works in current form.

 

[JD81]

Fuckin UAV's man....

 

[707guy]

I haven't heard if the controllers for these things will be ashore somewhere in a box or will they be on the boat? I know the guys on deck were doing the taxiing but who flys the thing and from where?

 

[SDNalgene]

I’m curious as how the thing is going to behave in the Marshal stack or the bolter/wave-off pattern.

Probably a lot better than I do...

What remains to be seen is how it will do when someone else screws up. Kinda tough to see and avoid when you have no eyes, and it is not inconceivable that someone marshals on the wrong altitude. All in all though I think the Case III recovery isn't really a difficult task for a UAV. Are the planning on recovering these Case I as well? Or will they just loiter until the stack collapses and then push?

 

[BigBadBoJenkins]

I haven't heard if the controllers for these things will be ashore somewhere in a box or will they be on the boat? I know the guys on deck were doing the taxiing but who flys the thing and from where?

I might be mistaken, but I think that the intent is to simply program them to fly some sort of mission, and then to let them go on their own. I think that's an option anyway.

 

[wlawr005]

I just hope we can still watch Terminator in the RR without it filing an IG complaint.

 

[BusyBee604]

I’ll be sold on the technology when it gets aboard on a case 3 pitching deck.

Or what happens when the controlling CPU's R-2574 burns out; while C-2813 shorts out simultaneously (or their ultra hi-tech counterparts)... on close final to jmc's pitching deck?
BzB

 

[707guy]

Or what happens when the controlling CPU's R-2574 burns out; while C-2813 shorts out simultaneously (or their ultra hi-tech counterparts)... on close final to jmc's pitching deck?
BzB

There's an app for that...

 

[707guy]

I might be mistaken, but I think that the intent is to simply program them to fly some sort of mission, and then to let them go on their own. I think that's an option anyway.

Wonder if the operators are going to get centurion patches for their office chairs...