We may be out of work soon

Bumblebee said:
Would it be accurate to say that a limitation of current fighter maneuverability is the human component? The aircraft could perform higher G force accelerations were there not a pilot onboard?
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Sort of...but the REAL limitations for a "dogfighting" UAV currently are twofold:

1. Limited situational awareness for the operator
2. Signal delay, both from the vehicle to the operator, and from the operator to the vehicle.

Even with the "human infrastructure" detracting from performance, weight, etc, it's still a far better option than an unmanned vehicle due to the limitations.
 
Inverted25 said:


We are talking about building a winch. Winches are very limited in what they can do. But we figured it might be good for like 9am-12 for students to do pattern work till the good thermals come out. They only use one quart of gas for each launch so pattern tows would be much cheaper with a winch.

At least I know as the glider pilot I wont be replaced because automated them would make no sense. Not that it cant be done, but we fly because we love it, not because we have to.
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I am actually trying to get a winch endorsement this winter, if I can find enough time.

I' near Moriarty, NM right now- awfully tempting to call in sick this week ;)
 
Here I thought flight engineers were in a dying career field, look out pilots. :D

I'll be damned if I ever fly in a cargo plane that is remotely piloted though!
 
To be fair the -52 is slated to be in service till 2040 so there's always that, unless of course they can retrofit that thing for pilotless flight.
 
All fun and games until someone smarter hi-jacks the signal or neutralizes/jams the ability to broadcast/receive. IMHO, technology is never the ultimate answer - everything, every technology, will have a weakness... the UAV represents a single point of failure if it were to actually replace manned aircraft.
 
ryan1234 said:
All fun and games until someone smarter hi-jacks the signal or neutralizes/jams the ability to broadcast/receive. IMHO, technology is never the ultimate answer - everything, every technology, will have a weakness... the UAV represents a single point of failure if it were to actually replace manned aircraft.
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Very true. But then you'll just see counter-counter measures, it has been that way for a couple thousand years. IMHO the best career move any military aviator can make right now is to transfer over to the UAV field for both opportunities in and out of the military. I have considered doing that myself, especially if CW4 promotion rates are going to be as dismal as everyone keeps saying. After 3000 hours and ten years my back hurts and while I still enjoy flying, I get a bigger rush riding my 10-speed down a hill.
 
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