Air Force studying cargo UAV's

[46Driver]

Saw this on www.aviationnow.com The Air Force is studying the concept of UAV's that carry 160,000 lbs of cargo. They would fly in a formation of up to 3 behind a C-17 mothership. They anticipate cost savings from reduced manpower requirements. The times, they are a changin'.

 

[YeOldeProp]

It'll never happen...ya see, the AF doesn't hire people to be flyers, they hire people to do all the extra duties around the squadron and base. Flying's just what you do when your other duties are complete. If there's no aircrew on base to fly the airplane (because it's robotic), who's gonna be around to plan the airshow, the change of command, set up the picnic, the VIP visit, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new building, set up the commander's golf tournament, stand at the flagpole Friday afternooon for retreat and pictures, go to Hail and Farewell and laugh during the "amatuer Colonel's comedy hour", cut the grass at the squadron, write articles for the base newspaper, play intramurals and a variety of other things that won't make sense to the non-military (no offense meant...just you wouldn't believe it if you haven't seen it for yourself).

But, do you think there's an Army general out there that's gonna trust the Air Force general with his millions upon millions of dollars of equipment (and maybe people???) to an airplane that's totally remote control? Should be an interesting research and development phase...

 

[Chunk]

Even as a squid, I heard about the T-tail mafia....it's going nowhere.

 

[bssthound]

The UAVs would have to get a lot more reliable since there have been a few crashes to date. It's not as big a deal if a small one takes out a cactus or two in Afghanistan as if a fully loaded behemoth goes skidding down Main Street at Charleston Air Force Base.

 

[flywithastick]

From what I've heard, the USAF and similar have been looking into all kinds of UAV applications (fighters, bombers, etc) for some time. Have seen several documentaries and heard first hand of their use. They have a transcontinental surveillance UAV in use right now (Global Hawk). A buddy of mine got intercepted by a smaller one (Predator?) along the TX Gulf Coast a year or so ago. They're out there.

 

[uavchaser]

he'd have to be in slow flight to be intercepted by a predator

 

[flywithastick]

he'd have to be in slow flight to be intercepted by a predator

then it wasn't a predator. Was in his 175-kt RV-6 when this thing pulled alongside him for a few moments, then turned and cleared out at a pretty good clip.