Message posted by Peter Merlin on July 07, 2012 at 14:00:41 PST:
The Predator and Reaper are remotely piloted vehicles. The pilot flies the RPA from a ground station that is set up much like a conventional cockpit, with a control stick, aircraft instruments, and a television screen providing an outside view from the aircraft. Takeoff and landing are the most harrowing phases of flight due to the nearly complete lack of physical cues (motion, engine sound, peripheral vision, etc.), and the slight time lag as control inputs are broadcast to the aircraft. The pilot must anticipate aircraft response to some degree. Some pilots describe UAS missions as hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror. This is especially true when the video feed cuts out intermittently during landing approach.
In Reply to: NYT re Reapers at Holloman posted by Brian L on July 07, 2012 at 6:54:57 PST:
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