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Home Front: WoT
Navy drone makes 1st carrier landing
2013-07-10
The Navy says it has landed an unmanned jet on the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush today, marking the first time a drone has made an arrested landing on a carrier -- generally thought to be the toughest flying job in naval aviation.

The Northrop Grumman X-47B demonstration vehicle landed on the Bush off the coast of Virginia today, following by nearly two months the first successful catapult launch from the same carrier.
while the Chinese try to learn how to have a human launch...
The "tailless" aircraft still used a "tailhook" to stop its motion once it touched down on the flight deck.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus praised this milestone in the growth of unmanned military aviation.

"By evolving and integrating new technology like the X-47B and the unmanned aircraft to follow, carriers will remain relevant throughout their 50-year lifespan," Mabus said in a released statement Wednesday.

The Navy announced the successful landing at 10:45 a.m. Pacific time
Posted by:Frank G

#10  Call Sign 'Salty Dog 502' That is the Strike Aircraft Test directorate @ PAX ( I was the Grumman-side Maint. Chief 91-94) and the 500 series have been traditionally reserved for the Attack community. I expect they will soon be hanging some ordnance on them for evaluations. Can the obligatory Buddy Store be far behind? Lawn darts need love too, ya'know.
Posted by: Ho Chi Dingle6729   2013-07-10 23:02  

#9  FYI WAFF > VIDEO: MODEL OF FUTURE RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER WID PAK-FA.

Russan Navy's version = copycat? of the UK's CVF = QUEEN LIZ [-ski] CLASS??

* SAME > F-35: BORN IN THE USSR?

Also, as per FREEREPUBLIC, the USN intends to name the next CVN21 [FORD-class CVN/CVNF] the new "USS ENTERPRISE".

Correct me iff I'm wrong, but I recall an Artic in the MSM-Net last week it costs the USN too much to demobilize or scrap the CVN-65, as per the on-going sequester - I STILL SAY GIVE CVN-65 TO THE BRITS FOR TRAINING + USE UNTIL THEIR CVF COMES IS COMMISSIONED.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-07-10 22:56  

#8  It says the third cable. (As it's supposed to)
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-07-10 22:09  

#7  >Which cable did it snag, I wonder?

The second.

Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2013-07-10 20:24  

#6  Those were strong young men in a towel wrapped locker room shower scene. They weren't gray. Well, Tom Skerrit was a little gray. Actually his moustache was really gray. The other guy was just balding, he wasn't gray.
Posted by: Skidmark   2013-07-10 18:37  

#5  Can it pull Kelly McGillis whilst staring in a film with a massive gay undercurrent?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2013-07-10 17:54  

#4  And can it land after a party.
Posted by: Shipman   2013-07-10 17:32  

#3  OK, so it can do carriers. But can it land at SFO?
Posted by: SteveS   2013-07-10 16:26  

#2  I noticed during the touch and go that the plane didn't have a tailhook out.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2013-07-10 16:04  

#1  Which cable did it snag, I wonder?
Posted by: Pappy   2013-07-10 15:43  

00:00