Very interesting development. I'd like to see how they'll be employed.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070715/D8QD61V80.html
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070715/D8QD61V80.html
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Next step Skynet....Manned vs Unmanned Aviation
- Thread starter phrogdriver
- Start date
I dunno about Air Force culture and deployment cycles, but I couldn't imagine their pilots would be too happy with giving up flight time to some dude in a shack in Nevada.
Do the "pilots" of these craft wear wings of some sort?
Wait, don't answer that. It's the Air Force...of course they do. Probably pulling in flight pay as well.
I will say that "Reaper" is a pretty cool freakin' name...not sure how it got past the PC crowd.
Wait, don't answer that. It's the Air Force...of course they do. Probably pulling in flight pay as well.
I will say that "Reaper" is a pretty cool freakin' name...not sure how it got past the PC crowd.
Air Force is treating Predator and Global Hawk pilot "seats" like any other assignment for pilots and all are rated aviators so there are F-16, F-15, etc. pilots flying them. Note: a rated aviator can be a Nav type (ie WSO). So instead of going to a cockpit in an aircraft, there might be a cockpit in a room at Creech AFB (or elsewhere) awaiting a USAF pilot/nav and before long the Guard as well.
Really? So I wonder if I could telecommute and be a Predator pilot. I picture me in sweats at my desk in the sun room, sipping some coffee and flying the UAV on a mission while I try to watch the kids.
"Leave the dog alone...and keep it down! Daddy's flying an important mission!"
"Leave the dog alone...and keep it down! Daddy's flying an important mission!"
Really? So I wonder if I could telecommute and be a Predator pilot. I picture me in sweats at my desk in the sun room, sipping some coffee and flying the UAV on a mission while I try to watch the kids.
"Leave the dog alone...and keep it down! Daddy's flying an important mission!"
LOL...that would work except you'd have to turn your sun room into a SCIF
Tex_Hill
Airborne All the Way!!!
Really? So I wonder if I could telecommute and be a Predator pilot. I picture me in sweats at my desk in the sun room, sipping some coffee and flying the UAV on a mission while I try to watch the kids.
"Leave the dog alone...and keep it down! Daddy's flying an important mission!"
You could start practicing now using MSFS.
Syracuse is slated to get Reapers starting in 2011, I believe they will be the first ANG squadron to get them. They may start losing their F-16s as early as next year. There are a lot of Viper pilots who aren't too happy about the idea of transitioning to an armchair and a playstation. The low hour guys will probably go to another F-16 squadron, the older guys will retired, but those Senior O-3s, O-4s and young O-5s are pretty much stuck.
The Global Hawk guy on the Joint Staff was a former HC guy, went to instruct at Vance and joined the USAF reserves after getting out to fly when not flying for the airlines. After being laid off by his major he went active and became a Global Hawk guy, just got his call back from his airline earlier this year but is going to stick out the last 5 years until retiring from the USAF.
Several of the USAF Prowler pilots were given a choice of flying Predators or Prowlers. One told me that they had to think about it.........
The Global Hawk guy on the Joint Staff was a former HC guy, went to instruct at Vance and joined the USAF reserves after getting out to fly when not flying for the airlines. After being laid off by his major he went active and became a Global Hawk guy, just got his call back from his airline earlier this year but is going to stick out the last 5 years until retiring from the USAF.
Several of the USAF Prowler pilots were given a choice of flying Predators or Prowlers. One told me that they had to think about it.........
Several of the Creech Predator guys (0-5s) are Navy "transplants" either having been caught in airline hiring woes or wanting not to deploy. They went over as JOs and 0-4s and several have now commanded squadrons. Predator guys get a lot of action (at the console) and even get medals for their efforts. Your acquaintances might have had to think about it because it's looking to be a high viz career and potentially more rewarding career wise.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Medals for flying UAVs..
Even I weep.
Even I weep.
I know a Marine O-5 Harrier guy who transplanted to a UAV squadron (Predators I think, but I don't know) a few years ago. He said he misses the real flying but it was one of the best career decisions he made as it pretty much guaranteed him at least one star if he didn't fvck up.
Plus he said he doesn't mind those girls sunning themselves that happen to show up in the recon photos while planning an amphib assault on some beach.
I can only imagine the kind of rivalries and friction going on between the UAV pilots and the conventional pilots in the USAF.