Comments on: UAVs: The Pilot and the Operator Can Be Friends

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:37:10 +0000

UAVs are going to move into the civilian market and rob me of my job prospects. I'm 30 years old, working on my helicopter instrument rating, probably too old to join any military aviation branch. SOL.

Somebody needs to write an article about people whose career dreams are being shattered by UAVs.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:57:28 +0000

I came across this post and it caught my attention. I think the civilian world and perhaps a younger poster here may not have the right idea about UAVs.. I was once the same way.

You guys do realize that the Predator operator was in all likelihood a rated USAF Instructor pilot with thousands of hours in manned aircraft?

Sorry to be the lone voice of dissent- but seeing as Osh Kosh is a symposium for aviation- AirVenture- I think that UAVs should be there. Whether any of us who love the visceral feel of flying like it, they have a place in the inventory. In the cold calculus of warfare (or business) they simply make sense.

I think manned aircraft will always participate in warfare BUT the balance of numbers will change. This is not a bad thing.. for us anyway. Mechanized infantry replaced horseback cavalry- I do not hear many Civil War re enactors pushing to bring back linear infantry formations with muskets. Warfare sucks fellas... keep the F-22s for a peer level enemy and lets hit Fred Flintstone with the Pred, deal?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:06:46 +0000

I hate UAVs. I do disagree with the reasoning in the article for calling them UAV/UAS/RPA/etc. A rose by any other name is still a rose, therefore, a UAV by any other name is still a UAV and I still hate it. Enough of my anger, but I also do disagree with a comment. I want to be in the fight, I don't want a stupid UAV to fly in and launch a Hellfire. I want to drop the bomb, I want to fire the Maverick, I want to pull the trigger of the A-10's cannon. That is what I've wanted to do since I was in 2nd grade and that is what I hope to do in the future. Thanks for the article though. I'm glad someone dislikes UAVs although not as much as I seem to. Thanks.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 05:55:32 +0000

I'm a amateur rc'er, and we were flying out near Jackson, MS today when some guy name Joseph Evans with ECI-(their website indicates they are weapons developer) brought out these cases about the size of a pool table, 3ft. deep, and after pulling out a laptop, the lids of the cases blew open and 4, black, almost stealth looking crafts hovered out of the cases and moved to an altitude of about 50ft and then created some kind of shockwave when the jet's(I guess) came on and these things flew out of sight faster than anything I have seen-manned or otherwise…what the **** were those? What can do that?

By: flyddw

flyddw — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:16:15 +0000

Steve, nice story. I share your thoughts about a predator at oshkosh. I also share your thoughts about a pilot being IN the plane and an operator being outside.

Like a previous comment, however, I don't believe airplanes and real pilots are going anywhere anytime soon. I would rather see hundred of "robot" planes over hostile areas anyday, than place people there - no matter how skilled they are.

Hopefully, we can still use our great military pilots to protect our homeland from threats, and also help our allies in medium-ly dangerous stuff.

But I think using a pilot and a super expensive jet plane to chase people in the desert or mountains is a complete waste of resources. A "robot" device like a globalhawk that can loiter without fatigue, taking photos and recon - i much more efficient system.

When it comes to plane v plane, that's where our pilots, now and in the future, will shine!

Keep up the good work, friend! @flyddw