X-47B's First Cat Shot

[Renegade One]

He's aircrew!

Jumping on the band wagon here, "I have a question, why is the guy running the controls wearing a survival vest and life preserver? Why not just a float coat?"

Can't get an Air Medal without dressing the part... The more "haggard and burned out" you look at MIDRATS helps as well.
"Christ on a crutch, that was one hairy mission! The SATLINK was totally intermittent, and I almost had to go "manual/direct". I do not get paid enough for this..."

 

[CumminsPilot]

Can't get an Air Medal without dressing the part... The more "haggard and burned out" you look at MIDRATS helps as well.
"Christ on a crutch, that was one hairy mission! The SATLINK was totally intermittent, and I almost had to go "manual/direct". I do not get paid enough for this..."

No such thing. If it loses the uplink, after a pre-determined amount of time it just turns around and comes home. How do they know it works? It's happened already.

 

[Hozer]

Of course it will....

 

[Homer J]

Can't get an Air Medal without dressing the part... The more "haggard and burned out" you look at MIDRATS helps as well.
"Christ on a crutch, that was one hairy mission! The SATLINK was totally intermittent, and I almost had to go "manual/direct". I do not get paid enough for this..."

I would imagine that the actual guy flying the mission is no where near the ship but instead securely hidden away in a trailer somewhere. The guy in the video is for all practical purposes, a parking lot valet.

Oh, and here are a couple pics of the Control Display Unit


.

 

[EM1toNFO]

Came over here unexpectedly last night and this morning while touring the lovely facilities here we saw the X-47B take off and hit the carrier landing pattern (at least that's what the lookout said). Also saw the F-35 at the same time frame take off shortly afterward with an -18 in chase.

 

[Catmando]

Oh I dunno. These Starfighters, despite the technology of the time and immensely computer aided, were still manned (or wommaned). So there is hope.

 

[Jim123]

... and these guys didn't fare so well.