WIX Archives
I agree, no soul. But...
Posted by Mike Henniger on Thu May 23, 2002 07:31:38 AM
In reply top First the V-1, now this... posted by bdk on Wed May 22, 2002 06:35:36 PM
...I would expect there are going to be alot more of them. They cost much less to produce than the standard fighter/recon aircraft, and don't put pilots at risk in high risk situations (something politicians like when they get their military entagled in a conflict).
From a engineering and systems point of view it does have a certain "cool" factor. Although if I had the chance to see a UCAV do a fly by, or a Mustang/Spit, the Merlin would win every time.
Regards,
Mike
: I wonder what kind of discussion this one will incite!
:
: What is you opinion of unmanned fighters? Are they warbird
: s?????
:
: ===================================================
:
: THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO ALL A&M AND PHANTOM WORKS EMPLOYE
: ES IS FROM JERRY DANIELS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF A&M, AND GE
: ORGE MUELLNER, PRESIDENT OF PHANTOM WORKS.
: We?re happy to announce that our X-45A Unmanned Combat Air
: Vehicle completed its first flight today at NASA Dryden F
: light Research Center. First flights of remarkable aircraf
: t are the hallmark of Boeing?s history. Today?s first flig
: ht of the X-45A begins our next exciting chapter.
: The X-45A advanced technology demonstration aircraft made
: a super flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Al
: l of our objectives were met, including successful demonst
: ration of the command and control link between the X-45A a
: nd the mission-control station. This first flight helps pu
: t Boeing on the leading edge of unmanned systems technolog
: y, an important element in the development of system-of-sy
: stems warfare in the future.
: We congratulate everyone who had a hand in creating our X-
: 45A. The strong, unified team from Boeing Phantom Works an
: d A&M Unmanned Systems made this first flight a tremendous
: success, and team members have every right to feel proud.
: This effort is a perfect example of how to bring together
: the best-of-the-best Boeing talents and skills to arrive
: at the best possible solutions for our customers.
: The X-45A first flight is only the beginning of this next
: phase in our history. We will continue to work together to
: make certain that our UCAV fulfills the warfighters? need
: s. Because it was designed from the start to go into comba
: t, to keep our pilots out of harm?s way in the first air a
: ssaults and to more precisely target the enemy, our UCAV i
: s faster and more capable than existing unmanned vehicles.
: That leadership position is one we intend to retain as we
: look to fly a second X-45A later this year and begin flig
: ht-test demonstrations with multiple aircraft next year.
: We offer our thanks to the entire team of dedicated profes
: sionals who designed, built and put the X-45A in the air.
: The X-45A may be unmanned, but we?re looking forward to an
: exciting ride?in the form of future developments, additio
: nal flights and the coordinated operation of UCAVs and man
: ned aircraft. More history in the making to be sure!