... for Nasal Radiators. There's a blurb with lotsa detail on the event below at the Daily Squid Gazette which is pretty good, if'n yer interested.
Lex saw this coming and the topic generated a lot o' discussion at the Ol' Mothership. "Another brick in the wall..."
Lex saw this coming and the topic generated a lot o' discussion at the Ol' Mothership. "Another brick in the wall..."
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| 130710-N-YZ751-075 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 10, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The landing marks the first time any unmanned aircraft has completed an arrested landing at sea. George H.W. Bush is conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis/Released) |
On the upside of the use of unmanned aircraft, it will decrease the need for tin cans to work plane guard detail.
ReplyDeleteIt had to be one of most thankless duties in the fleet.
Invariably the carrier would speed off in the distance, because they were much faster, then reverse course without notifying anyone so the trailing ship would then become the pursued.
It wasn't bad in the daylight, but night ops were hell on wheels...
...and the skipper always blamed CIC.
I can't imagine. Srsly. You guys pulled some hella duty.
DeleteI definitely miss the wisdom of Lex.
ReplyDeleteThe fundamental issue is the need for a jet jock in the cockpit when you can have a youngster with wifi steering from many time zones away. How many Naval Air/USAF missions in the future can be dome by a group of kids in a dark room? It might even be considered more 'politically expedient' since the F. Gary Powers problem cannot occur. Not to mention that it costs a bunch of money to keep pilots trained and current.
Austere times call for austerity, but is this a road that the DOD should march down without examining all of the second and thrid order effects?
I SO agree with you about Lex, Tim, and yer other points, as well. I can see UAVs doin' some o' the grunt work... like maritime patrols and the like... but NOT as a substitute for anything/everything. Or, what Chris said, immediately below.
DeleteAs long as we fight Third World Shiteholes, no problem. We can drone, drone, drone all the live long day.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as we come up against a serious opponent who has an Air Force. Bye bye drones. Bye bye America.
A real live pilot in the cockpit will beat some guy sitting in a trailer 1000 miles away any day of the week. The guy in the trailer can't "feel" the fight because he ain't in the fight.
Just my two cents.
Agreed. Totally.
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