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[JCZ]

10Jul13, the US Navy successfully conducted Take-offs and landings from a fairly new nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), with a new stealth jet called the X-47B.   
What is SO different about this plane, is the fact that it is a 'drone'. Yes, it is completely unmanned.

Drones come in all sizes, and the X-47B is likely one of the larger ones.  What is so ironic about all of this is the fact that the enemy cannot detect a plane like this in the first place.

In the unlikely event they get lucky at shooting one down, there will be no human loss of life or captivity. As you view the flight deck crew signalling the plane, they are simply signalling the on-board cameras, which in turn are being manned by staff inside the command intelligence center (CIC) onboard the ship. Also, check out the short distance this plane needs for a take-off. Impressive indeed.

 

 

[Chains]

Thanks JC really neat video.

Looks like my 15 year old grandson that plays video games all day everyday may have a future after all.

[GregKhougaz]

Very cool, JC!        I think the short take off uses a catapult, though.  You can see the steam coming off the deck.

[Twolanerider]

I'm generally not one to quote Lenin but in many cases quantity really can have a quality all its own.  So while China and the Soviets Russians are gaining ground on current manned aircraft standards while the F35 programs continues to have its struggles I've been excited for a long time over the prospect of unmanned aircraft's future in the strike aircraft category. 

Cheaper produce since no support systems for a human pilot are needed.  Less recovery support needed to go after a pilot who is down.  Not that long before they can be seen to be as capable.  Depending on payload needs can be smaller (and therefore carry more in a below deck hanger).  Some missions (if only for political reasons) will continue to require human hands on the stick for the foreseeable future.  It's easy to close one's eyes and envisions swarms of drones.  Eisenhowerian warnings of the problems of the "military-industrial complex" might end up making such systems that wouldn't have to be toweringly expensive still be so.  But the concept is one worth watching for.

[porthole]

Lot of confidence there - touch and go with a helo operating on deck 

[2 ROSE]

Yeah very cool video. So how far away are we from  making military pilots obsolete??? Thinking human boots on the ground cannot be far behind. Next thing you know all hell breaks out and a cyborg is knocking on your front door saying in his scariest Arnold accent "Come vith me if you vant to live".
...just saying.

[D-N-D]

Nice Video !!! Thanks JC

[2k]

Catapult for sure, still not as much drop as an old F-4 Phantom that would drop out of sight if you were on the catwalk.

[JCZ]

Catapult for sure, still not as much drop as an old F-4 Phantom that would drop out of sight if you were on the catwalk.

Sounds like you were in the Marines Aviation?  I was Aviation 70-73.

[red ben59]

I'm impressed, send them it on ISIS like a swarm of killer bees,