Posted on 01/05/2015 9:46:29 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
There are a lot of non-child hot keyboard pilots that could fly drones with massive skills. Just check out some action from the air and ground force simulator game, War Thunder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dojDT1yfzbY
Democrats would rather outsource the whole operation to China to free up tax money for the undocumented Democrat invasion. Products can be made more cheaply in China and for commies, killing is pretty much just another product.
I was with the drones downrange, from the Ravens and Shadows all the way up to the MQ-1.
No commissioned officer was anywhere to be found. The UAV platoons were all run by CW2’s. The operators of the MQ-1’s I worked with were all USAF E-6’s.
PLUS: as of a few years ago, the MQ-9’s are staying as USAF assets, but the MQ-1’s are being farmed out to the Air National Guard. There’s one squadron based out of Whiteman, the other at Nellis.
To fly a drone,you don’t need an Officer rated Pilot.I’m sure the Air Force could find thousands of enlisted men/woman who would be more than capable of flying a drone.
All this is a question of the utilization of resources - mostly money, which for the USAF is to be spend primarily on the prospective fleet of F-35s - an overpriced, lightly armed, ineffective, obsolescent, do-everything badly aircraft.
Maybe the USAF could have all they need to retain drone pilots, analysts, and maintenance crews, plus restarting the F-22 program, and keeping some F-35s, if all the money wasn’t being sucked up by entitlement programs. The current arrangement will only get worse in coming years as these entitlement programs suck up ALL the non-entitlement funding.
And the US military ceases to exist because there is no money to pay for it. Free stuff or a military ... no brainier ... free stuff wins, lefties win, ISIS wins ...
On the bright side, if you are a young guy ... three wives and as many concubines as you can handle ... Laz?
Thanks Jet Jaguar.
> Another genius who can’t make a distinction between Hollywood and reality?
I love the “Terminator” franchise, but the suspension of disbelief necessary by moderately educated professional engineering and science types to enjoy that genre of entertainment is beyond monumental.
Did I really have to put an /s there? I was being entirely sarcastic...
Yup. The USAF continues its spiral into ridiculousness. Someone needs to jerk their chain and HARD.
I see no reason why we can’t have non-commissioned officers flying drones under officer supervision. The other services have warrant officers. The US Army Air Force had Flight Officers.
The USAF needs to start Warrant Officers.
Just read this and it is horrible:
“Drone pilots work six days in a row, for an average of 13 to 14 hours a day. They log 900-1,100 flight hours a year, compared with pilots who fly manned aircraft and put in between 200-300 hours per year, James said.”
I bet they aren’t getting enough breaks, too, and mentally that is exhausting.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/15/air-force-taking-steps-to-fill-drone-pilot-shortage/
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