View Full Version : X-47B on USS Harry S Truman, CVN 75
#1 SIL's toy is finally getting close to a carrier launch. :lifter
The sister ship has been doing land-based CAT testing, and it's GTG. :lifter
http://blogs.defensenews.com/intercepts/2012/12/first-pics-x-47b-unmanned-aircraft-aboard-carrier-truman/
There is a vid of the X-47B being taxied around the deck.
After we replace the Air Force with a bunch of X-box players, we can swap out the Navy too! After a few cycles their academies will only be looking for portly, diabetes-infuses, introverted recluses!
2023 Army will finally be able to win the CiC trophy!
The deal is,, the X-47B has no xbox player,,
They are 100% autonomous.
You load up the flight plan and it launches, refuels, targets, returns itself.
The Navy already lets the computers land and launch their F-18's. The pilot is there for the ride.
The X-47B is not an armed craft,, yet. It is only loaded with electronics to observe and relay info from/to the boots.
The Air Force is actually the one dragging their feet. They know that if these become successful, their usefulness becomes a moot point..
The Navy, on the other hand, will be glad to get back to being BOAT people,, even if they are only delivery vehicles for boots..
With refueling, the X-47B has over 30 hours of on target hang time. The wait for support should drop to seconds after they become armed.. :eek:
Streck-Fu
12-11-2012, 07:56
The Navy already lets the computers land and launch their F-18's. The pilot is there for the ride.
Navy has had assisted landing for as long as we have had jets. And auto-pilot function has been able to complete full mission for a very long time as well. They just don't use it.
I would imagine the Air Force has had the same capabilities for about the same time.
Pilots being pilots commanded by pilots, they are defined well by the scene from The Right Stuff....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAyJiNobfY8
The X-46B...
With refueling, the X-46B...
Did you mean X-47B?
Just wait until the USMC shows off their new TIE* Fighters - if that doesn't frighten alQuaeda, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan, Scotland, and the Chinese into giving up... ;)
Richard :munchin
* Twin Ion Engine
Did you mean X-47B?
Tx.. :o
Badger52
12-11-2012, 08:16
Just wait until the USMC shows off their new TIE* Fighters - if that doesn't frighten alQuaeda, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan, Scotland, and the Chinese into giving up... ;)
* Twin Ion EngineDoes that really cool screaming noise affect distillery operations?
The Reaper
12-11-2012, 19:40
If you don't need pilots for planes any longer, why do you need sailors on ships?
TR