StyrenePilot1970 wrote:
But with drones and unmanned aircraft, does it really matter anymore?
I just wanted to correct a subtle difference here: there aren't any "drones" that the US has in operational roles.
A drone is something that is programmed to fly a pre-planned route that is not modifiable in flight -- like the D-21 of yesteryear.
An unmanned aircraft (the current USAF term is 'Remotely Piloted Aircraft', or RPA) has a live human being that makes decisions about the operation of the aircraft real time -- it is actively flown.
The Global Hawk is about the closest the USAF gets to a 'drone', as it doesn't get flown with a stick/throttles, but with mouse clicks. Even with the GH, though, there is a man there the entire flight who is altering flightpaths, orbits, altitudes, airspeeds, etc, to match mission requirements.
Even the QF-4s and MQM-107s that are shot down for the WSEP programs aren't really 'drones' by the specific correct terms.
Although the terms get thrown around like synonyms, they are not and in fact there are important differences between the two.
_________________
ellice_island_kid wrote:
I am only in my 20s but someday I will fly it at airshows. I am getting rich really fast writing software and so I can afford to do really stupid things like put all my money into warbirds.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
