X-47B demonstrator completes its first shore-based arrested landing

You Tube / Navair ^ | 05/05/2013 | Naval Air Systems Command

[taildragger]

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completes its first shore-based arrested landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. May 4.

[taildragger]

Link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CxWTqHiy3RM

[taildragger]

Let's try that again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CxWTqHiy3RM

[Conserev1]

That cool! Means carriers can suport them! I wonder and maybe it’s possible it can be in-flight refuled?

[DakotaGator]

If I recall correctly, in-flight refueling has already be successfully demonstrated.

[Conserev1]

Killer that means 24 hr surviellance with armament deployment.

[Daus]

I’m curious, if the Navy actually could stomache a full UAV carrier, how many of these bad boys would fit on a carrier like the Reagan? It would be quite the swarm I would imagine.

[taildragger]

That cool! Means carriers can suport them! I wonder and maybe it’s possible it can be in-flight refuled?

Yes :-)....

[taildragger]

I’m curious, if the Navy actually could stomache a full UAV carrier, how many of these bad boys would fit on a carrier like the Reagan? It would be quite the swarm I would imagine.

Wings fold up and over and w/ the Flying / Blended Wing Body design if you will it doesn't have vertical tails and has a small footprint. Their are pictures of it in line drawing and or cad type file super-imposed on a F-18 and it is smaller if my memory is correct, google it...

[Vendome]

Want...

[Daus]

Yeah, with wings folded the X47B is 10 feet narrower than an F-18 and 18 feet shorter. Roughly 2/3 the size of an F-18.

[Daus]

Roughly half the height.. you could double stack them down below. :)

[Mat_Helm]

Yes, but was it controlled by data link, line of sight radio, microwave,VHF, any and all electronic signals going out from the boat to control the UAV is going out to the world saying, “Here I am, come and get me!” Which is why even at night most carrier landing approaches are not even mode 1, 2, or 3 with or without the tadpole. The ICLS and LLS system only is used and sometimes not even that, so there is little electronic signal coming from the boat to pick up or trace. If the software is good enough to find the boat with data link and use on board sensors to land autonomously than good. If the satellite is down with no data link than does it fly to preset GPS coordinates to marshall and find where the boat should be? There is no fear in a UAV of a night time pitching rolling deck, but this test landing was on a flat fixed deck, how does it do in a real world rough sea condition? UAV’s will never be that good to rely 100% on something that must be stealthy and electronically silent from takeoff to landing and not just in between. They have there place as a tool but will never replace the pilot and the meatball(FLOLS).

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

Slow to retract hook there, nugget: better work on that deck technique.

Seriously, congratulations to all: that was a nice landing. Was it graded OK-3?

TC

[A.A. Cunningham]

130504-N-ZZ999-101 NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (May 4, 2013) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completes its first shore-based arrested landing, or "trap", at Naval Air Staion, Patuxent River, Md. The unmanned aircraft used its tailhook to catch a carrier representative cable, known as the MK-7 arresting gear, to quickly stop the aircraft. This type of recovery is required aboard aircraft carriers. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman/Released)

130504-N-ZZ999-102 NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (May 4, 2013) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completes its first shore-based arrested landing, or "trap", at Naval Air Staion, Patuxent River, Md. The unmanned aircraft used its tailhook to catch a carrier representative cable, known as the MK-7 arresting gear, to quickly stop the aircraft. This type of recovery is required aboard aircraft carriers. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman/Released)

130506-N-FU443-247 NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is scheduled to be the first aircraft carrier to catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft. George H.W. Bush is preparing to conduct training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

130506-N-YZ751-663 NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is lowered on an aircraft elevator from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is scheduled to be the first aircraft carrier to catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. George H.W. Bush is preparing to conduct training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)

130506-N-FU443-389 NORFOLK (May 6, 2013) Sailors move an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is scheduled to be the first aircraft carrier to catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. George H.W. Bush is preparing to conduct training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)

[familyop]

Cool!

[taildragger]

AAC... Great photo’s thanks...

[vetvetdoug]

I remember the runway lined up at Yokota AFB with dozens of B-47’s with the F-102’s of the Fightin’ 40th waiting to take off as their escorts during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Yes, the X-47B ain’t nowhere near what an ancient B-47 was but it sure jogged some memories.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Roughly half the height.. you could double stack them down below. :)"

Yep. The hangar deck would more properly be referred to as a magazine.

[taildragger]

Thanks for the memories and your Service VVD!