Posted on 02/11/2011 4:33:49 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Navy is building on the successful first flight of the stealthy, tailless Northrop Grumman X-47B demonstrator as a pivotal step toward the long-held goal of marrying persistent, autonomous unmanned intelligence and strike aircraft with the reach of its fleet of aircraft carriers.
“We’re celebrating the centennial of Naval aviation, and if we fast-forward 100 years, then we’ve added three words—unmanned, autonomous and LO [low-observable] relevant,” says Capt. Jaime Engdahl, the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) project director. The X-47B flight-test program, which began with a 29-min. flight at Edwards AFB, Calif., on Feb. 4 will answer questions about what it takes “to put unmanned, autonomous and LO-relevant into the carrier environment.”
Though proving the viability of the once unthinkable concept of autonomous combat air operations from the carrier, UCAS is also a critical technology stepping-stone to the Navy’s planned Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance Systems (Uclass) program. “Just as important is the technology we embed into the carrier itself,” says Engdahl, referring to the data link and related communication breakthroughs that UCAS-D is expected to demonstrate as part of a planned seamless integration of unmanned aircraft into carrier air wing operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at aviationweek.com ...
Don’t have to worry about G Force on a pilot. Turn on a dime and give ya 9 cents change.
If they can get this sucker mastered, it will be a perfect fit for the EMALS electromagnetic railgun catapult...
ping
i guess the more that land by computer = less LSO's
was always kinda partial to he Hustler myself... 
Hey Zot!
Regards,
TS
The B-47 was a beautiful bird. The C-47 was an all-purpose truck. The P-47 was a milk-bottle with wings. This X-47 is a computer geek’s dream.
Why not automate landing of carrier jets?
Or do they already have it but elect to maintain manual proficiency, just in case?
roger that...
was always kinda partial to the Hustler myself...
I kinda liked the B-58 as well. I contemplated what the aircraft might be capable of today, with only two late model engines. As I was contemplating, I viewed your home page and was astounded by this:
Capt. Morgan J. Donahue USAF MIA-Laos 12-13-1968 Missing but NOT Forgotten.
...and the follow on story.
The copilot on the mission, Joe Fanning, was my roommate. The two navs Morgan and John, lived right next door. I was awakened pretty early the next morning, telling me the crew had been in a mid-air with a B-57. Was on the flightline when the only known survivor Tom, got out of the Jolly green. Was unaware of the follow on information regarding Morgan as a possible POW.
Been to the traveling wall many many times as a continual reminder of the crew.
damn... i am happy to at least have provided you some info on your friend. i still wear his MIA bracelet on special occasions as it has worn so thin it has started to crack. i am going to have it mounted on a silver band for support
...and I think I forgot to thank you. May we never forget.
i thank you, and we won't... several times i've had people ask me why i still wear it?
i tell them, if you have to ask, you are the reason.
Click on pic for past Navair pings.
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I wonder which will be more challlenging for the program to master...carrier landings, or mid air refueling?
The last US military tactical aircrews are now in the training pipeline.
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