Author Topic: Us largest drone (Read 3261 times)

RC Storick · « **on:** July 08, 2014, 12:46:07 PM »

Hows this for a drone?

Tony Drago · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2014, 02:37:27 PM »

SCARY...

peabody · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2014, 02:41:25 PM »

You do know that it's as fake as the clip of the F-35 doing a loop at launch, don't you?

Jason Greer · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2014, 03:59:57 PM »

http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/X47BUCAS/Pages/default.aspx

Looks legit to me...

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2014, 04:19:40 PM »

Quote from: peabody on July 08, 2014, 02:41:25 PM

You do know that it's as fake as the clip of the F-35 doing a loop at launch, don't you?

What do you mean Rich? This test(s) were conducted last year.

You don't think the moon landing was faked, do you?

RC Storick · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2014, 04:44:21 PM »

It the real deal. Just as the tri hull jet distroyer the Navy is testing at 45 knots.

mike londke · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2014, 06:00:52 PM »

Not fake. That plane was in the hangar where my brother works at Patuxent Naval Air Station. This flight occurred over a year ago. Mike

Sean McEntee · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2014, 06:24:17 PM »

I dont know about the BIGGEST UAS in the inventory. Wingspan is only a hair longer then the Grey Eagle at 60ft. Its probably the HEAVIEST with a GTOW of 45,000 lbs.

I've been wondering how long it was going to take before the Navy got onboard (no pun intended) with operating UAS off of carriers. Youtube "Shadow UAS landing". RQ-7B "Shadow" has been using an arresting hook/gear system for short field and tactical landings since it was fielded in 2001, and the RQ-5/MQ-5 "Hunter" since 1991. Still boggles my mind when I watch a computer put a Shadow (which, bear in mind is only 400lbs) on the centerline in an 20kts direct crosswind.

I am interested, however in how the added challenge of a pitching carrier deck was overcome.

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2014, 07:02:06 PM »

We might want to rethink large drones. I’m pretty sure that this one, the Global Hawk, has them all beat.
I can be somewhat proud of this craft in that I engineered and designed the entire drive system for the phased array scanning radar. It’s a gear reduction system with a total backlash specification of .5 milliradian.
•   Length: 47.6 ft (14.5 m)
•   Wingspan: 130.9 ft (39.9 m)
•   Height: 15.3 ft (4.7 m)
•   Empty weight: 14,950 lb (6,781 kg)
•   Gross weight: 32,250 lb (14,628 kg)
•   Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce F137-RR-100 turbofan engine, 7,600 lbf (34 kN) thrust
Performance
•   Cruise speed: 357 mph (310 kn; 575 km/h)
•   Range: 8,700 mi (7,560 nmi; 14,001 km)
•   Endurance: 28 hours
•   Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m)

Bob Z.
ps - Steve Fitton, you saw part of the drive.

peabody · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2014, 07:11:52 PM »

I stand corrected....

wwwarbird · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2014, 07:58:32 PM »

Quote from: Tony Drago on July 08, 2014, 02:37:27 PM

SCARY...

Maybe, depends what country you live in.

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2014, 08:09:22 PM »

Time to rewrite the CL Carrier rules.

RC Storick · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2014, 09:11:02 PM »

Quote from: Sean McEntee on July 08, 2014, 06:24:17 PM

I dont know about the BIGGEST UAS in the inventory. Wingspan is only a hair longer then the Grey Eagle at 60ft. Its probably the HEAVIEST with a GTOW of 45,000 lbs.

I've been wondering how long it was going to take before the Navy got onboard (no pun intended) with operating UAS off of carriers. Youtube "Shadow UAS landing". RQ-7B "Shadow" has been using an arresting hook/gear system for short field and tactical landings since it was fielded in 2001, and the RQ-5/MQ-5 "Hunter" since 1991. Still boggles my mind when I watch a computer put a Shadow on the centerline in an 20kts direct crosswind.

I am interested, however in how the added challenge of a pitching carrier deck was overcome.

I am sure it has ACL and it calls the ball on its own. The ball is a mirror on a gyro with a light reflecting off it. So its not to hard to envision ACL (Automatic carrier landing) on this plane. F14's had this in the 70tys. Perfect guide slope is 3 degrees and that is hard to maintain in 15 foot swells by eye. Even though many pilots do this on a daily basis. They figure that you only have seventeen seconds to line up and hit the box. Not much time for corrections.

While I might have over spoke on the largest this is a fighter plane that's unmanned. Should give the competition a good run.

frank williams · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2014, 09:57:45 PM »

I miss the salute to the pilot right before launch.

Dennis Leonhardi · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2014, 10:05:03 PM »

Quote from: Sean McEntee on July 08, 2014, 06:24:17 PM

I dont know about the BIGGEST UAS in the inventory. Wingspan is only a hair longer then the Grey Eagle at 60ft. Its probably the HEAVIEST with a GTOW of 45,000 lbs.

I've been wondering how long it was going to take before the Navy got onboard (no pun intended) with operating UAS off of carriers. Youtube "Shadow UAS landing". RQ-7B "Shadow" has been using an arresting hook/gear system for short field and tactical landings since it was fielded in 2001, and the RQ-5/MQ-5 "Hunter" since 1991. Still boggles my mind when I watch a computer put a Shadow on the centerline in an 20kts direct crosswind.

I am interested, however in how the added challenge of a pitching carrier deck was overcome.

Sean, the Navy has been working on them since the '90s, though perhaps not making too much noise about it. An engineer friend of mind was in on the first efforts and shared some of those early projects.

Another good friend and aero engineer, flying buddy in our high school days in the '50s, just retired from advanced research projects at Northrop Grumman. He tells some pretty funny stories about pushing projects along and was very involved in the UAS lineage for several of his last years.

Dennis

RC Storick · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2014, 10:13:53 PM »

Its just part of the worlds most expensive video game.

55chevr · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2014, 06:05:45 AM »

The Navy developed a drone helicopter in the 50-s with Gyrodyne. It was for anti submarine detection. The carrier launch and recovery is interesting. Plus this is a stealth design.

Paul Smith · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2014, 07:04:02 AM »

I guess the "biggest drone" doesn't include B-17 drones in WWII.

The thing that makes me wonder is all the people standing around in the jet blast area and the confidence they have in the landing of the headless horseman.

Live by the chip.
Die by the chip.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2014, 08:39:21 AM »

Have to have faith the electronics don't get hit with a glitch.

RC Storick · « **Reply #19 on:** July 09, 2014, 09:51:07 AM »

I wounder what they are doing for counter measures against a RF hit just like RC. I thought about pesky drones in the city and how to rid them. Pretty easy.

louie klein · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2014, 10:47:18 AM »

God bless the USA!

Paul Smith · « **Reply #21 on:** July 09, 2014, 11:49:37 AM »

The first commandment of Dune.

Make no machine in the image of the human mind.

The HAL computer in 2001 and the current 24 series prove my point. These chip critters will turn of you. They have no conscience. Did I mention Cylons?

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #22 on:** July 09, 2014, 01:04:26 PM »

I sailed San Diego to Honolulu two times on USS Kitty Hawk as civilian contractor. I watched night flight ops from a side catwalk (the sailors let me do it, even though it wasn't allowed). Night ops with those fire-breathing jets is something not to be forgotten.

F.C.

RC Storick · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2014, 05:09:23 PM »

The most unforgettable moment for me was a low supersonic flyby by a F14. Impressive to say the least.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2014, 06:05:06 PM »

My unforgettable was the night a VA-212 pilot flying an A4 came in too low and hit the ramp. Front half tumbled down the deck on fire, back half landed in the fantail on fire. A carrier flight deck is not a fun place to be at night.

DanielGelinas · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2014, 04:04:38 PM »

My Unforgettable jet moment was booking at the KOA campground in Virginia Beach and finding out when I got there (after driving 2 days) that a military runway was the direct neighbor of the campground. ..and the jets were taking off EVERY 10 minutes... and it started very early in the morning and ended late at night... and we slept in a tent...

-Dan

john e. holliday · « **Reply #26 on:** July 11, 2014, 08:16:50 AM »

Just think how safe you are with all those jets flying.

RC Storick · « **Reply #27 on:** July 11, 2014, 09:06:28 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on July 11, 2014, 08:16:50 AM

Just think how safe you are with all those jets flying.

If your head is not on a swivel you could be blown overboard, hit with a 100 mph tool box, walk into a prop, get sucked up a by a jet engine or hit with a arresting wire. All this is happening while battling a head wind that could blow you overboard and add into the mix night ops where its so dark out you cant see the hand in front of your face. I guess its safe. That's why everyone has his place and you better be within a foot of that spot. This all happens in 12 hour shifts.

Bruce Reynolds · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2014, 10:09:49 AM »

Quote from: DanielGelinas on July 10, 2014, 04:04:38 PM

My Unforgettable jet moment was booking at the KOA campground in Virginia Beach and finding out when I got there (after driving 2 days) that a military runway was the direct neighbor of the campground. ..and the jets were taking off EVERY 10 minutes... and it started very early in the morning and ended late at night... and we slept in a tent...

-Dan

This reminds me of the old Cleveland flying field that was right next to the end of the runway at Hopkins. We camped there many times. They would advertise as "the only contest with 747's as alarm clocks." The planes would start rolling out around 6:00AM as I recall.