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Unpiloted Passenger Jet Tests

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the we're-going-to-experience-a-little-turbulence-here dept.

spacepingu writes "The UK military recently tested a remote-controlled passenger jet over south-west England. Although the pilot was sitting in the back of the aging BAC 1-11, he controlled it entirely using the 'UAV Command and Control Interface (UAVCCI)'. This also allowed him to operate several virtual UAVs in a simulated attack scenario. The ultimate goal is for a fighter pilot to control a swarm of attack UAVs alongside his own plane. Next March, a Tornado fighter pilot will use the UAVCCI to fly the unpiloted BAC1-11 as well as several simulated UAVs, all from the cockpit of his own jet."

2 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The real benefit of fly-by-radio by AslanTheMentat · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here ya go:
    Milgram Experiment
    YA article...

  2. Re:Trans-Oceanic Cargo. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 3, Informative
    Such a plane could fly low and slow to save fuel, because it wouldn't have to worry about pilots or passengers getting tired.

    Sort of like an Ekranoplan? Cool idea - you can get a lot of lifting capacity with less fuel usage. The only problem is more vulnerability to weather effects than current high-level jets, but I could still see a use in situations that aren't extremely time sensitive - if the weather's bad today, they'll simply fly tomorrow or route around trouble spots. Still probably faster than a 6-day ocean crossing by cargo ship.

    -b.