PDA

View Full Version : End of an era, or a new beginning ?? X47B launching from the George W.


Tiger G
15th May 2013, 08:48
A video of the first carrier based launch of the X47B UCAS from the George W Bush. Not quite the same as a Tomcat :sad:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rf0rDIhGv0

SpringHeeledJack
15th May 2013, 09:16
How did it fare in the flare ? Or did it land at some AFB ?

Not_a_boffin
15th May 2013, 09:20
Recovered at Pax River Naval Air Station to do some more arrested recovery trials, I believe. Once they're done, some more shipboard trials to come.

Heathrow Harry
15th May 2013, 13:22
Is it me or don't you think its odd that the deck marshal is giving visual signals to an unmanned drone???? :confused:

Not_a_boffin
15th May 2013, 13:38
It's not just the UCAV he's communicating with........

hval
15th May 2013, 13:48
It's not just the UCAV he's communicating with......

It's the cyborg inside that the signals are for. :E

Not_a_boffin
15th May 2013, 13:59
I think it prefers the term "artificial person".....etc etc.

Fox3WheresMyBanana
15th May 2013, 14:05
Dunno why the deck crew are applauding - half of them will be out of a job as a consequence!

Lonewolf_50
15th May 2013, 14:09
The rotary wing guys are ahead of the suck and blow folks on this (http://www.pprune.org/Last year, HSL-42 deployed with two Fire Scouts and an H-60 helicopter aboard USS Halyburton (FFG 40). During this deployment, the detachment recorded more than 1,000 flight hours.). HSL-42 has already deployed with a mix of SH-60 Seahawk and MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV's on a frigate.

Look for a mixed manned and unmanned airwing on CVs in a few years. (I'll guess IOC is 5-8 years from now, once the carrier landing issue is sorted to NAVAIR's satisfaction. )

Willard Whyte
15th May 2013, 17:31
That's the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush.

woptb
15th May 2013, 19:19
Fox3WheresMyBanana

Dunno why the deck crew are applauding - half of them will be out of a job as a consequence!

Groundcrew out of a job,think again:D

John Farley
15th May 2013, 19:55
HH

Normal deck practice has the marshaller in charge. He is in the best postion, trained etc. So the pilot ALWAYS follows his instructions. Just like the pilot of this aircraft (when it comes to taxing stuff) who has his control kit strapped all over him (please nobody talk about a suicide vest).

Thelma Viaduct
15th May 2013, 20:01
That's one big reminder as to why we should have gone with JSF-C :ugh::ugh::ugh:

I mean should have bought F/A-18s :ok:

LowObservable
15th May 2013, 20:02
Everyone on deck does their thing normally except for the bloke with the remote control widget, who watches the marshaller's hand signals and drives the aircraft appropriately.

The widget is cumbersome but it works. The next step will be to replace the widget with some Wii-type device that the marshaller can wear without too much difficulty.

The aircraft in turn uses lights to replace any pilot signals - for instance, flashing wingtip lights take the place of the "OK to launch" salute.

Evalu8ter
15th May 2013, 20:56
SHJ,
'How did it fare in the flare ? Or did it land at some AFB ?'

Maybe the cyborg was a Dos Gringos fan and always wanted to take off from a carrier but never land? Mind you, didn't see the little roll after take off....

I Want To Takeoff From a Carrier - YouTube

Ignore the Flt Sim and enjoy the song!!

SpazSinbad
15th May 2013, 21:08
The future for robotic aircraft deck/ashore control direct from hand signals to robot recognition perhaps....

The next step in directing drones: hand signals By Joshua Stewart 01 Apr 2012

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/04/navy-next-step-directing-drones-hand-signals-040112w/
__________________________

Multi-Signal Gesture Recognition Using Body and Hand Poses by Yale Song

http://rationale.csail.mit.edu/publications/Song2010SMThesis.pdf (9Mb)
_____________________

Guiding robot planes with hand gestures

"Published on Mar 13, 2012 / MIT News - March 14, 2012
Aircraft-carrier crew use a set of standard hand gestures to guide..."

Guiding robot planes with hand gestures - YouTube

Ogre
16th May 2013, 03:09
Great, that means if it works the robotic aircraft will park where the liney wants it to, rather than where the pilot does.....

Does that mean that the pre-flight flight control checks will be done with style and panache, rather than the race between the pilot and the liney a la Jaguar, which ends with the liney apparently disco dancing on the line whilst trying to keep up?

Heathrow Harry
16th May 2013, 12:31
John F - my comment was a bit tongue-in-cheek

I presumed that the guys with the Play Stations were watching him and that it really would be stupid to come up with a new set of hand signals for a possible one-off occasion

order, counter-order, disorder....................

Daysleeper
16th May 2013, 12:36
Time line looks good for them to be integrated with our new cat and trap equipped carri.... ah, smeg.

SpazSinbad
16th May 2013, 20:53
X-47B Completes First Carrier-based Launch (Long) 3

"Published on May 14, 2013 130514N-SI489-001
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia"

X-47B Completes First Carrier-based Launch (Long) 3 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_FMvNrkwmi0)

CLICK Thumbnails for Big Pic:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_1stCatX-47BCompletesFirstCarrier-basedLaunchLong3.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/1stCatX-47BCompletesFirstCarrier-basedLaunchLong3.jpg.html) http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_WaveOffStartedX-47BCompletesFirstCarrier-basedLaunchLong3-1.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/WaveOffStartedX-47BCompletesFirstCarrier-basedLaunchLong3-1.jpg.html) http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_WaveoffPositionOverRampX-47BCompletesFirstCarrier-basedLaunchLong3-2.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/WaveoffPositionOverRampX-47BCompletesFirstCarrier-basedLaunchLong3-2.jpg.html)

SpazSinbad
17th May 2013, 05:10
"X-47B in flight after first-ever catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush 14 May 2013" - Downwind perhaps? About to turn base? Or on way home I guess - no wheels etc....

http://www.navair.navy.mil/img/uploads/130514-N-UZ648-298.jpg

Click for pic: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_X-47Binflightafterfirst-evercatapultlaunchfromUSSGeorgeHWBush14May2013.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/X-47Binflightafterfirst-evercatapultlaunchfromUSSGeorgeHWBush14May2013.jpg.html)

ORAC
17th May 2013, 07:20
X-47B Heads For Final Tests (http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:70730384-e833-47a7-94b1-2a3938045401)

...........Navy officers are very clear on a distinction between the Navy and the Air Force, which insists on talking about remotely piloted aircraft: Navy "unmanned air systems" have operators, not pilots. Of course, the Navy hasn't been forced to divert a large number of qualified pilots into UAVs, as the USAF has been (Predators and Reapers are the USAF's second-largest pilot force after the F-16), and will not have to do so for a long time. But the fact remains that flying a UAV with a stick and rudder or any semblance thereof is (to quote an Airbus guy's comment on the Boeing 777's back-driven yoke) like putting a steering wheel on a horse. "Pilot" is a bit of a misnomer.

Speaking of pilots, the Navy's attitude towards adopting the X-47B's automatic landing technology for manned operations is quite positive. The potential benefits -- less wear and tear on airframes and less training time for the air group, along with improved safety -- are substantial.

Navy Drone’s Next Test: X-47B Will Land, Sort Of; China Unveils Similar Drone (http://breakingdefense.com/2013/05/15/navy-drones-next-test-x-47b-will-land-sort-of-china-unveils-similar-drone/)

...........What’s subtly remarkable about the X-47B is how much more autonomous it is than other unmanned aircraft, not just in take-off and landing but in flight as well. Most drones, such as the famous Predator, are really “remotely piloted aircraft” or RPA: There isn’t anyone on board, but there is a human being somewhere at a ground control station, sitting at a control panel with a joystick, throttle, and other controls, flying the aircraft by remote control, much like a video game. Without constant input from a human operator, an RPA will just keep on going in a straight line or, if its onboard computer realizes it has “lost link” with ground control, it will automatically go into a holding pattern and wait. If the humans can’t get back in contact with the drone, it will keep flying circles in the air until it runs out of gas and crashes. (Or it may self-destruct).

The X-47B is in constant communications with a human on the ground or on the carrier, but they don’t have a joystick – they use standard computer mice, or, for landings, a specialized hand controller – and they’re not flying it by remote control. They’re giving it commands to perform certain tasks, such as land, abort the landing (a “wave off” in Navy parlance), or fly to a specified point. The robot handles the details – just like a human pilot following instructions from flight control.

“The air vehicle operator always has direct control, always has a direct link to the air vehicle, and always has the ability to direct it to do a certain task, [e.g.] to discontinue an approach or wave off, to turn or climb or to execute another round,” said Engdahl, “[but] the aircraft is always autonomous. It is always thinking about the commands that are given to it and reacting to the commands in one sense or the other.”..............

SpazSinbad
18th May 2013, 05:02
"Salty Dog 502" almost at touch down - click thumbnail: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_X-47BalmostTDcvn77934688.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/X-47BalmostTDcvn77934688.jpg.html)

SpazSinbad
18th May 2013, 07:49
And now for something completely different - a T&G X-rated video....

UCAS Touch and Go Landing 1

"Uploaded on May 17, 2013
An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator conducts a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), marking the first time any unmanned aircraft has completed a touch and go landing at sea. George H.W. Bush is conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory Wilhelmi
130517-N-WH671-001"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIWVs8xtiv8

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/UCASTouchandGoLanding1TDed.png~original (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/UCASTouchandGoLanding1TDed.png.html)

SpazSinbad
18th May 2013, 08:15
X-47B Carrier Suitability Testing Spring 2013
Published on May 14, 2013

X-47B Carrier Suitability Testing Spring 2013 - YouTube

SpazSinbad
18th May 2013, 09:14
The day of the unmanned aircraft. By Dave Majumdar on May 15, 2013

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2013/05/the-day-of-the-unmanned-aircra.html (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2013/05/the-day-of-the-unmanned-aircra.html)

"...However, the X-47B did not carry out an arrested landing upon returning to Pax River. That could be because the unmanned jet was having difficulty making even that first trap it did the week before where the Navy showed off a video of the aircraft snagging a wire. Sources told the DEW Line, at the time of the earlier trap, the aircraft now had a 10 percent field boarding rate... So hopefully, this isn't an indication of a major problem. The X-47B guys have had to redesign their tail hook a number of times now due to the same inaccurate Navy-supplied wire dynamics model that was partly responsible for the F-35C's woes...."

ORAC
9th Jul 2013, 08:25
We Now Know EXACTLY How Much Ass the Navy’s New Killer Drone Will Kick (https://medium.com/war-is-boring/85b3bdabf14b)

1,000 pounds over 2,000 miles, is how much

The U.S. Navy is working on a radar-evading, armed, jet-propelled, highly autonomous drone warplane able to take off of and land on the pitching deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as early as 2018.

Known by the ungainly moniker UCLASS — that stands for “Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike — the new drone will be the first pilotless warplane with the same bombing abilities as today’s manned jet fighters.

It’ll be stealthy. It’ll carry lots of sensors and ordnance over long distance. It’ll be expensive. That much we knew. What we didn’t know until late last week was just how much stuff it will carry, how far and against what level of enemy defenses. We also had no idea how much the Navy expected to pay for the drone.

Now we do know, thanks to an internal Navy document (http://news.usni.org/2013/06/26/navy-docs-reveal-uclass-minimum-ranges-and-maximum-costs) obtained by the U.S. Naval Institute’s news blog. The requirements document lays out what are called “key performance parameters” that the UCLASS drone is supposed to meet.........

BEagle
9th Jul 2013, 08:44
'UCLASS' with a soft C would be pronounced 'useless'.....

Drone acronymish has now extended from TLAs to SLAs, it seems...:rolleyes:

When the 'lightly contested environment' turns out to be not that lightly contested, the chances of such an expensive drone surviving more than one mission would be somewhat slim, I would guess.

The idea of armed drones wandering about the world anywhere within a 1200nm radius of action from a USN carrier is 'interesting'....:rolleyes:

con-pilot
9th Jul 2013, 15:00
The idea of armed drones wandering about the world anywhere within a 1200nm radius of action from a USN carrier is 'interesting'

Yes, much better to just let the Chinese handle such things. :p

SASless
9th Jul 2013, 16:00
120 Million Foot Pounds I think....assuming Nautical Miles!

SpazSinbad
10th Jul 2013, 07:34
Already part posted in another thread [ http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/424953-f-35-cancelled-then-what-150.html#post7932645 ] but this thread is appropriate also.

Unmanned X-47B Readies for Final Touchdown By Jason Kelly – July 9, 2013
"By Capt. Jaime Engdahl | Program Manager, Navy Unmanned Combat Air System

"...In May, Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush worked X-47B operations for the first time and the world watched as they catapulted the aircraft from the deck with ease.

Throughout the next few days, we saw X-47B complete nine perfect touch-and-go landings on the moving carrier deck....

...Final X-47B shore-based arrested landings at Patuxent River were successfully completed in late June. Carrier suitability engineers put the aircraft through a series of very demanding tests, including hard landings and high speed arrestments, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that we were ready to land on a moving carrier deck. Both X-47B aircraft are now certified to conduct carrier flight operations, including catapults, arrested landings, flight deck taxi operations, maintenance and refueling....

...The revolutionary technologies that we have developed and proven in the harsh carrier environment including aerodynamics of a tailless aircraft, autonomous aircraft behavior, precision GPS navigation, and digitization of the aircraft carrier air traffic control procedures will truly impact the way we integrate manned and unmanned aircraft on carrier flight decks in the future.

While the X-47B itself is not intended for operational use, the UCAS program has developed the concept of operations and demonstrated the technology for follow-on unmanned carrier based aircraft. The program demonstrated the ability to seamlessly integrate unmanned systems into the carrier environment with only small incremental changes to the existing equipment and concept of operations."
Unmanned X-47B Readies for Final Touchdown (http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/07/09/unmanned-x-47b-readies-for-final-touchdown/)

SpazSinbad
10th Jul 2013, 21:44
X-47B Completes First and Second Carrier-based Arrested Landings
"Published on Jul 10, 2013
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first and second carrier-based arrested landing on board USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia July 10."
X-47B Completes First and Second Carrier-based Arrested Landings - YouTube
____________________

18 second video of first arrest (which I can see now) with my impression that the X-47B takes No.2 wire out of the three available on the BUSH baby.... :}

X-47B First Carrier Arrested Landing AIRBOYD short 18sec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Qq6dOV1zY

SpazSinbad
10th Jul 2013, 22:27
X-47B Makes First Arrested Landing at Sea (Updated 5:10 p.m, EDT) Story Number: NNS130710-06 Release Date: 7/10/2013
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Vinson, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs
" USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first carrier-based arrested landing on board USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia July 10....

...During today's testing, the X-47B completed the 35-minute transit from Pax River to the carrier and caught the 3 wire with the aircraft's tailhook. The arrested landing effectively brought the aircraft from approximately 145 knots to stop in less than 350 feet.

Shortly after the initial landing, the aircraft was launched off the ship using the carrier's catapult. The X-47B then proceeded to execute one more arrested landing....
X-47B Makes First Arrested Landing at Sea (Updated 5:10 p.m, EDT) (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75298)

HiRez Pics: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/130710-N-MW819-037.jpg
&
http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/130710-N-MU440-126.jpg

pma 32dd
11th Jul 2013, 11:00
This throws wide open the script for Top Gun 2...negative ghostrider your OS is being rebooted....

622
11th Jul 2013, 12:07
A quick question from one not in the know...Why do they leave some of the fleet A/C on the deck during this?
I am assuming this was completed relatively close to home shores, and I would have thought they would have cleared the decks (either below or flown away) during this early trial?

SpazSinbad
11th Jul 2013, 12:18
'622' in answer to one part of your question....

X-47B makes first carrier trap 11 Jul 2013 Dave Majumdar
"The US Navy made aviation history on 10 July when a Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat air system-demonstrator aircraft made a first-ever arrested landing onboard the aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush, which was sailing some 70 miles (113km) of the Virginia coast....
X-47B makes first carrier trap - The DEW Line (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2013/07/x-47b-makes-first-carrier-trap.html)

The VIPs including SecNav I believe were onboard having arrived in the prop job.

Otherwise I would guess that because this is not a crab evolution nor a crab pilot attempting to deck land that there is a no worries blind faith due to the excellent testing scenario right from the getgo. No? :}

The technology that enabled this accurate landing (previous series of touch and goes etc.) is still under development for mere mortals - which - amongst other things is called JPALS.

SpazSinbad
11th Jul 2013, 20:22
Drone X-47B fighter lands on Navy carrier, handles glitch well 11 Jul 2013 By Larry Dignan
"Summary: The algorithm guided autonomous X-47B successfully lands on the USS George H.W. Bush twice and self detected a computer anomaly that took it to shore without incident.
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) completed two arrested landings on board the USS George H.W. Bush on Wednesday and self-detected "a navigation computer anomaly" and diverted to a shore landing site.

According to the U.S. Navy, the carrier landing of the X-47B ushers in an era of unmanned aircraft that can conduct naval aviation missions. The test, conducted off the coast of Virginia, revolved around a 35 minute flight from the Pax River to the carrier and caught the 3 wire with the aircraft's tail hook. The X-47B came to stop in less than 350 feet.

After the first landing, the algorithm-guided X-47B was catapulted off the carrier again. On the third flight, the Navy said the drone "self detected a navigation computer anomaly that required the air vehicle to transit to the assigned shore based divert landing site, Wallops Island Air Field. The X-47B navigated to and landed without incident."..."
Drone X-47B fighter lands on Navy carrier, handles glitch well | ZDNet (http://www.zdnet.com/drone-x-47b-fighter-lands-on-navy-carrier-handles-glitch-well-7000017959/)

SASless
11th Jul 2013, 20:47
Parking aircraft on both sides of the landing area is standard practice....big as they are....Flight Deck space must be used as best possible.

Read some of Steve Coontz books, "Intruders" springs to mind as one that discusses the art of landing aboard Carriers and the perils it poses. He flew A-6's during his time in the USN.

Another excellent book is his "Cannibal Queen".....a real aviation classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn5DHw70zPo

SpazSinbad
11th Jul 2013, 20:49
X-47B successfully lands on aircraft carrier 10 Jul 2013 Christopher P. Cavas
"...“The biggest piece of news is that there was no news,” he [Ray Mabus US SecNav] declared. “On the whole, you saw sailors do what sailors do on a carrier at sea.”

Those, at least, were reactions after the first two landings. A planned third landing, however, was waved off after a technical problem was discovered, perhaps emphasizing the special nature of the event.

The X-47B, which had taken off from the Navy’s air test center at Patuxent River, Md., flew to the Bush flanked by a pair of Super Hornet chase planes. After one programmed pass over the ship, the aircraft circled around in the traditional race track carrier approach pattern — although seemingly a bit wider than usual — then came straight in to catch the carrier’s No. 3 wire, just as engineers had planned.

Other than the absence of a cockpit, pilots and aircrew, it all seemed rather routine, but the engineering to get to this point was anything but.
“What you saw today was a miraculous, technological feat,” Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, told a group of reporters flown out to the Bush. “It was astounding.”

After landing, the aircraft was positioned on a catapult, launched and came around again to repeat the feat. It was a more extensive routine than when the little tailless plane — similar to a baby B-2 stealth bomber but about the size of an F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter — was launched for the first time at sea on May 14.

The second landing was also successful, if just a tad off the optimum — catching the No. 2, or middle wire.

After another launch, engineers from the Naval Air Systems Command planned a third landing, but it was not to be.

“On the third approach to Bush, the X-47B aircraft self-detected a navigation computer anomaly that required the air vehicle to transit to the assigned shore based divert landing site, Wallops Island Air Field,” Cmdr. Ryan Perry, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon, said in an e-mail Wednesday evening. “X-47B navigated to and landed without incident.”

Only two X-47B aircraft have been built, and there are no plans to acquire any more. The concept and engineering demonstrator program will likely finish its flight program and be closed down in a few months, as the Navy transitions to a new program to develop an operational unmanned carrier-based jet.

That program, the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike effort, is expected to lead an operational squadron by 2019, Mabus [US SecNav] said."
X-47B successfully lands on aircraft carrier | Navy Times | navytimes.com (http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130710/NEWS04/307100040)

SpazSinbad
12th Jul 2013, 03:04
Glitch forces experimental U.S. drone ashore after historic carrier landing 11 Jul 2013 By David Alexander (Editing by Philip Barbara)
"...The X-47B aircraft dubbed "Salty Dog 502" landed twice on the USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Virginia on Wednesday as Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Admiral Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, looked on.

The aircraft refueled and then resumed testing, aiming to conduct a third landing, officials said. After a successful slingshot launch from the carrier's catapult, the X-47b lined up for its third carrier landing of the day.

"The aircraft had been catapulted, it was airborne, it was in the pattern ... it was on final approach about 4 miles (6 km) out ... hook was down, gear was down," said Rear Admiral Mat Winter, the Navy program executive officer for unmanned aviation.

"As it's supposed to do, it continues to check the health and status of all its subsystems, and that's when it identified one of its navigation computer's anomalous behavior," Winter said.

The plane, which operates with little human intervention, climbed to a pre-set altitude and reported the problem to a controller on the aircraft carrier, who looked at the information and told the plane to divert to the pre-programmed airfield.

Salty Dog 502 flew to Wallops Island Air Field, on a barrier island along the Virginia coast, where it landed itself without further incident, officials said.

Winter downplayed the incident, saying anomalies are common in test aircraft subsystems. He said the Navy expected to continue testing the X-47B aboard the USS Bush next Monday, its next scheduled availability, probably using the second X-47B.

"Based on what we know right now, we fully expect to either operate Air Vehicle 1 or Air Vehicle 2 out to the ship to continue to finalize the objectives for X-47B," Winter said.

The program calls for the aircraft to do a minimum of three carrier landings, though the operators plan to do more if possible, officials have said.

Officials said workers on the program were going over the data from the aircraft to determine what caused the anomaly, which might be fixed simply by resetting the navigation computer.

Winter said a spare navigational computer could be swapped for the one that caused the problem, if needed, and the plane then flown back to Patuxent River Naval Air Station where it could be examined further."
Glitch forces experimental U.S. drone ashore after historic carrier landing | Reuters (http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/11/usa-navy-drone-idUKL1N0FH27Y20130711)

SpazSinbad
12th Jul 2013, 03:32
Old news but SOB.... no more X-47B flights soon....

X-47B Tech Could Benefit Both Manned And Unmanned Aircraft By Bill Sweetman 16 May 2013
"...It had been hoped the aircraft would conduct arrested landings during this at-sea period, but bad weather at Patuxent River prevented the completion of some tests — heavy-load arrestments and high-sink-rate landings — that were needed to earn formal Navy approval to make an arrested landing at sea. These tests should be finished in June and a carrier should be available in July-August.

This is expected to mark the end of the X-47Bs’ flying career. There are no plans for further flight tests in the UCAS-D program and, so far, no other program or agency has shown interest in using the Navy assets. Earlier plans called for an autonomous inflight refueling test to be carried out after the carrier landings, but these tests will instead be performed (for probe-and-drogue refueling only) using Calspan’s Learjet test aircraft, with flight control software that emulates the all-wing, “cranked kite” X-47B...."
X-47B Tech Could Benefit All Naval Aviation (http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_05_16_2013_p04-02-579475.xml)

SpazSinbad
12th Jul 2013, 07:44
Navy: Glitch in X-47B Test Only Proves Unmanned Aircraft’s Reliability 11 Jul 2013 By Sarah Sicard
"...Although this is the final phase of the demonstrator program, it was the first of three scheduled tests with the second scheduled for July 15...."
Navy: Glitch in X-47B Test Only Proves Unmanned Aircraft?s Reliability - Blog (http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?List=7c996cd7%2Dcbb4%2D4018%2Dbaf8%2D8825eada7aa2&ID=1199)

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/blog/Lists/Photos/UCAS-07112013.jpg

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/blog/Lists/Photos/UCAS-07112013.jpg

SpazSinbad
13th Jul 2013, 02:15
For '622' another view of the acreage available on a CVN - "Never mind the Quality - Feel the Width" (old vaudeville joke).

http://www.aviationweek.com/media/images/fullsize/Defense/UAVs/X-47B_UCAS_Carrier_landing-AmyButler.jpg

http://www.aviationweek.com/media/images/fullsize/Defense/UAVs/X-47B_UCAS_Carrier_landing-AmyButler.jpg

That Hoover Pilot on previous page video sure had a nice day to do it.

SpazSinbad
13th Jul 2013, 02:21
Third UCAS Carrier Landing Attempt Diverted Ashore By Amy Butler 12 Jul 2013
"...
This third arrested landing attempt took place only shortly after the X-47B achieved aviation history by conducting the first trap landing of a stealthy, tailless unmanned aircraft on a carrier deck.

That feat took place 10 sec. early, Engdahl says, at 1:39 p.m. and 50 sec. local time. During the first landing, the aircraft caught wire 3 at 124 kt. with a 28 kt. headwind.

After conducing a catapult launch, the aircraft then snagged wire 2 at 118 kt. This second landing is notable because while the tailhook during the first touched down almost exactly where models suggested on the centerline, the second time it did not.

The tailhook actually contacted the deck 9 vertical inches short of the programmed point (which translates to a few horizontal feet because the ship is in motion). But the aircraft still managed to catch the number 2 wire as planned.

While on the Bush, operators conducted the first-ever hot refueling of the X-47B on a deck...."
Third UCAS Carrier Landing Attempt Diverted Ashore (http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_07_12_2013_p01-01-596367.xml&p=2)

SpazSinbad
14th Jul 2013, 06:21
No.2 Wire Arrest 10 July 2013, 2nd Arrest of Two

http://dmn.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Salty-Dog-502-X-47B.jpg

Click thumbnail: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_X-47Bno2wire2ndArrest10jul2013.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/X-47Bno2wire2ndArrest10jul2013.jpg.html)

SpazSinbad
14th Jul 2013, 21:03
I had misrembered this old info as being for the new CVNs abuildin' but from CVN 76 onwards - CVN USS BUSH is CVN 77 - here is the wire arrangements.

Click Thumbnail: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_3or4wireCarrierConfigUSN.gif (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/3or4wireCarrierConfigUSN.gif.html)

SpazSinbad
16th Jul 2013, 21:51
X-47B fails fourth trap attempt 16 Jul 2013 Dave Majumdar
""Aircraft 'Salty Dog 501' was launched to the ship on July 15 to collect additional shipboard landing data," the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) says. "During the flight, the aircraft experienced a minor test instrumentation issue and returned to NAS Patuxent River [Maryland], where it safely landed."

The unsuccessful fourth attempt means that the UCAS-D programme will not be able to complete its stated goal of making a minimum of three successful "traps" onboard a carrier. The X-47B made two successful traps on the Bush on 10 July, but a third attempt that day failed when aircraft "Salty Dog 502" self-detected a navigation computer anomaly that forced it to divert to Wallops Island Air Field, Virginia.

"There were no additional opportunities for testing aboard CVN 77, which returned to port today," NAVAIR says. "This was the final at sea period for UCAS-D. The objective of the demonstration was to complete a carrier landing. The programme met their objective."

NAVAIR UCAS-D programme manager Capt Jaime Engdahl says, "We accomplished the vast majority of our carrier demonstration objectives during our 11 days at sea aboard CVN 77 in May."..."
X-47B fails fourth trap attempt - The DEW Line (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2013/07/x-47b-fails-fourth-trap-attemp.html)

GreenKnight121
17th Jul 2013, 09:51
X-47B = 2 of 4 on deck landing attempts. ;)

Not bad for a developmental prototype.

SpazSinbad
18th Jul 2013, 21:48
Good selection of First Arrest X-47B photos here:

USS Bush makes history, traps X-47B - The Flagship: Top Stories (http://www.norfolknavyflagship.com/news/top_stories/article_871cede6-efbd-11e2-95bf-0019bb2963f4.html)

Includes some high powered LSOs under training taking it all in their strides. :}

"130710-N-YZ751-426 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 10, 2013) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert, observe an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator preparing to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), July 10. George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to recover an unmanned aircraft at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)"

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/norfolknavyflagship.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/f6/ef6adcd4-ef1b-11e2-84b5-0019bb2963f4/51e6f88be1700.hires.jpg

Click Thumbnail Edit/Crop Example: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_X-47BsecNavCNOunderTrainingLSOsArrest.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/X-47BsecNavCNOunderTrainingLSOsArrest.jpg.html)

orca
18th Jul 2013, 23:54
Good to see CNO looking away from the UCAV in disgust whilst the chap right in the middle has decided to take a phot of something behind it.

West Coast
19th Jul 2013, 00:17
I wonder how much of my money was spent giving the SECNAV and CNO their own vests? Kinda humorous a LSO is standing by.

500N
19th Jul 2013, 00:20
"Kinda humorous a LSO is standing by."


I liked the video of the launch with the person launching facing the
UAV and the person controlling the UAV standing behind him !

SpazSinbad
19th Jul 2013, 01:58
For '500N' who said above:""Kinda humorous a LSO is standing by.". Short answer may be gleaned by this comment on first page of this thread: http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/514842-end-era-new-beginning-x47b-launching-george-w.html#post7844704 .... Then... http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/514842-end-era-new-beginning-x47b-launching-george-w.html#post7844720 .... Then then.... http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/514842-end-era-new-beginning-x47b-launching-george-w.html#post7844844

But youse knew that - right? In a similar way the LSO monitors the X-47B approach with the ability to wave it off within the wave off window along with the AirBoss in FlyCo. Two other operators also have the capacity to deny a landing but further out during the approach (ATC and the UAV controller). The whole idea is to make a 'seamless' environment - the same as for manned aircraft - so that the UAVs fit in to the carrier evolutions.

500N
19th Jul 2013, 02:59
Spaz

It was actually West Coast who said "Kinda humorous a LSO is standing by."
I was quoting him.


But yes, I do understand why you have them. After all, you already
have trained people and SOP's for manned aircraft, as far as I can see
no point in changing a perfectly good working procedure everyone knows,
especially of both manned and unmanned aircraft are going to be
operated from the same deck.

Please correct me if needed.

SpazSinbad
19th Jul 2013, 03:19
'500N' apologies - 'West Coast' it is. I'll have to have my ear trumpet adjusted.

What is nice is that the UAVs do not need training to remain current although I will guess that LSOs will need to remain current with their UAV approaches if the Operational UAVs do not fly much (but these days USN LSOs ashore have a simulator to work with). They will work it out.

500N
19th Jul 2013, 03:28
Spaz

OK, I haven't read up on everything but wouldn't the "pilot" controlling the
UAV be the one who needs to remain current as well ?

West Coast
19th Jul 2013, 03:42
Ok spazsinbad, got it. I guess I still scratch my head that a F18 LSO was there. Not sure how it is these days but it used to be any LSO can wave you on shore for practice but they preferred someone in the community to wave you on the boat. Who knows, you'd think if the others rated their own jacket, he'd have a really cool one. I suppose on the other hand I'd keep my hornet jacket lest someone confuse me for a video game operator only.

SpazSinbad
19th Jul 2013, 08:13
I'm probably being funny (I'm not sure these days on this forum) but you may ask yourself why CNO and SecNav were there also. No Brainer.

Lots of LSOs inhabit that space for whatever reason. Probably the F-18 LSO was there to support the VX-23 team for the 'Salty Dog' (squadron callsign) approach. No? You will see a number of support LSOs checking for clear deck and the like on USN CVNs however VX-23 is responsible as this pic will show....

The VX-23 lightning bolt logo can just be seen on this PADDLES:
http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/130517-O-ZZ999-004.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_VX23logoOrigW.gif (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/VX23logoOrigW.gif.html) Click Left/Right Thumbnail: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_VX-23paddlesLSOx-47BtampGBUSH17may2013.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/VX-23paddlesLSOx-47BtampGBUSH17may2013.jpg.html)

Here we go: X-47B Accomplishes First Ever Carrier Touch and Go aboard CVN 77 (http://www.navy.mil./submit/display.asp?story_id=74225)

"130517-N-FU443-090 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 17, 2013) An X-47B unmanned combat air system (UCAS) demonstrator prepares to execute a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). This is the first time any unmanned aircraft has completed a touch and go landing at sea. George H.W. Bush is conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)"
&
http://www.navy.mil./management/photodb/photos/130517-N-FU443-090.jpg

'Strike PADDLES' is VX-23 Test Squadron LSO responsible for the X-47B carrier landings.

This PDF link would be a repeat of how the X-47B is controlled:

NUCAS and Paddles Oct 2012

http://www.hrana.org/documents/PaddlesMonthlyOctober2012.pdf

"...The LSO can wave off the AV from the time it calls the ball until the AV touches the deck. There is a dual-redundant system that activates both the primary and emergency waveoff circuits to ensure the AV will wave off. Then the waveoff button is actuated, a “waveoff” uplink discrete message commands the AV to waveoff. The X-47B will respond immediately, within 0.2 seconds of actuating the waveoff button. Additionally, a separate AV “heartbeat” message – a signal always pulsing between the AV and the ship – has discrete fields that also send “cut” and “waveoff” for dual-redundancy. When waveoff is pressed, waveoff will illuminate on LSODS along with a smaller electronic UCAS-D “waveoff” indication when it receives the electronic waveoff signal through the loopback system...."
&
Navy UCAS Achieves Milestone Aboard Eisenhower Patuxent River, MD - 7/5/2011
"...To support an autonomous vehicle, PMA-268 has modified shipboard equipment so that the UCAS-D X-47B air vehicle, mission operator and ship operators are on the same digital network. For current fleet aircraft, the Landing Signal Officer (LSO), who is charged with safe recovery of aircraft aboard the ship, uses voice commands and visual signals to communicate with a pilot on final approach. Since a UAS cannot reliably respond to voice and visual signals, the LSO’s equipment communicates directly with the aircraft through the digital network via a highly reliable interface. Similar digital communication capability has been integrated with the ship’s primary flight control (“tower”) and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) facilities. Most importantly, the UAS operator’s equipment, installed in one of the carrier’s ready rooms, is integrated with the very same network...."
Navy UCAS Achieves Milestone Aboard Eisenhower - Southern Maryland News (http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/23048)
&
STRIKE TEST NEWS Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 [VX-23] Newsletter 2011 Issue
X-47B PROJECT TEAM LCDR Kevin “LAMB” Watkins X-47B Department Head N-UCAS Government Flight Test Director
"...With these systems installed, commands could be sent to the aircraft from multiple test team operators onboard the ship. For example, the LSO has the ability to send a “roger ball” or “waveoff” command by using the standard pickle switch, which is responded to electronically by the X- 47B airborne test systems. The Air Boss could send commands to the surrogate aircraft such as “Charlie”, “Turn Downwind”, “Spin”, or “Break” by using a touch screen display installed in PriFly. Similarly, CATCC controllers could send electronic marshal instructions or any other CASE I, II or III commands to the airborne test system via their displays. All of this is done using pre-set sequences and flight profiles. All of the “classic” flight control and throttle manipulations, navigation, and aircraft configuration changes are determined and executed automatically by the air vehicle (in this case the surrogate aircraft) based on the instructions sent from the ship. The test aircrew can either respond to these commands by manually following flight director guidance displayed in the HUD or coupling to the ship and “shadowing” the controls while these functions are executed automatically...."
http://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.download&id=671 [PDF 2.8Mb]

orca
19th Jul 2013, 13:51
West Coast.

Any LSO can and does wave any platform.

500N.

The yellow shirts wanted everything to be as per manned aircraft, so they marshal as if there is someone in it...and the bloke who isn't in it walks behind him.

SpazSinbad
19th Jul 2013, 13:58
'orca' said: "Any LSO can and does wave any platform." YesSireeBob but only with training. Only VX-23 has experience with the X-47B; but it is all over now baby blue. Future unmanned vehickles will be waved by suitably trained LSOs. Similarly LSOs are trained on various types ashore but often do not get experience with other than their own types until some time later. Junior LSOs are supervised by more experienced type LSOs. LSOs breed like.... That is why any CVN LSO platform is always overpopulated with 'em. :} So they are supervising, helping out the aircraft type / squadron LSO actually responsible for the aircraft in the groove; and being monitored by the CAG LSO as required.

500N
19th Jul 2013, 14:11
orca

thanks, as I thought.

orca
19th Jul 2013, 17:24
As luck would have it I just spoke to a LSO who confirmed that whilst they don't 'wave the pass' as they would for a piloted aircraft they are there to wave off etc as they would for any other deck evolution.

Spaz. Correct there will be a 'wing qual' on the LSO platform at any one time but the 'squadron qual' guys will be on primary waving the pass for any aircraft in the wing.

SpazSinbad
19th Jul 2013, 20:13
'orca' so it seems any old LSO is convincing rather than the written material provided on previous page which goes to great lengths to explain the role of the LSO in the specific situation for recovering X-47Bs aboard (there is more to that material not in the brief excerpts shown).

Here is an example of a crowded (Raygun) LSO platform.... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/SpazSinbad/NewerAlbum/th_LSOcrowdedPlatform080324-N-3659B-190.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SpazSinbad/media/NewerAlbum/LSOcrowdedPlatform080324-N-3659B-190.jpg.html)

“Lex:– I’ve been a big fan of your site for a while. I’m CAG Paddles on the Ronnie Reagan and was on the platform for this shot (in the back with the headset on) which was taken a couple of days ago. I had no idea that the picture was taken and was very surprised to see it on your site. Our “wave” Teams today consist of a Paddles from each squadron–usually about five guys. There is the Controlling LSO, Backup, CAG Paddles, writer, deck caller, and also a timer for groove length and interval between aircraft. Of course, there is the enlisted hook spotter, gear cross-checker, and lens rep. (all with cranials on). Obviously, it makes for a crowded platform but is necessary for safe operations today. Yes, we are looking back at a Hornet which just trapped. And yes, we are girly-men for the wind screen! Thanks and keep up the good work. Taco”
Motivating naval aviation « Neptunus Lex (http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/03/26/motivating-naval-aviation/)
&
http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/080324-N-3659B-190.jpg

VIDEO: LSOs Doan Impres Me Much Satire Song - YouTube (http://youtu.be/wuCggzV9lb4)

orca
19th Jul 2013, 21:31
No you miss the point.

All those people are indeed there, my point was purely that the guy on primary will wave any pass from any machine. He is backed up by secondary who is usually concerned with line up and there is a wing qual guy there as per my previous.

I'm not reading too much into your tone (which appeared a little dismissive)but my last trap and visit to the platform was within the last three months and I was on the Bush for some of the X-47 work...and the bloke I quoted was CAG paddles. But anyway...back to you.

SpazSinbad
19th Jul 2013, 22:28
'orca' well I did say any 'old' LSO. :E It seems we talk at odds though. I'm referring to the VX-23 LSO(s) who have recently stopped their work with X-47B onboard - anway. No one else would know anything about them; except BUSH LSOs will go to their platform to observe/learn and assist as you indicate. The future will be as we both say. I'll take your word for what you do and you take mine including evidence provided.

Pretty much you can read my tone as being humourous (in the long tradition - sadly now gone - of the old RAN FAA Fixed Wing Division). Australians do not take much seriously and they get on with things. Watch out for your job according to this little lot... :}

Navy jet drone: 2 out of 4 ain't bad? Jeanette Steele 19 July 2013
"...
In a recent piece about the X-47B, Global Security describes a future where the Navy puts a human air wing crew on a carrier only when combat is imminent. That scenario requires far fewer pilots and aircraft mechanics.

In that version of reality, the human jet pilot could go the way of the elevator operator.

“It has been a long time since there were many want ads for elevator operators, though at one time that was a pretty decent line of work,” Pike said."
Navy jet drone: 2 out of 4 ain't bad? | UTSanDiego.com (http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/19/navy-carrier-x47b-bush-landing/)

orca
20th Jul 2013, 06:37
It would be nice if he was old - but he's actually some young scamp which makes it even harder to bear when he berates my continual attraction to the 1 wire!

Cheers, Orca.

t43562
16th Aug 2013, 21:32
The thing that interests me is if this is so automated that the same technology could be used in normal aircraft to help the pilots land more easily. An "autoland" feature in other words.

SpazSinbad
24th Dec 2013, 06:48
What has happened to the thread posts here after the last post in August? 'orca' did you steal them? Your own recent post in the last day or so has gone missing - along with mine. I dunno.

orca
24th Dec 2013, 06:55
I can promise you old chap that whilst I am many things, lots of them of dubious moral standing, a post stealer I am not!

Try the bloke who started the Tristar thread, not that he'll remember doing it!

SpazSinbad
24th Dec 2013, 07:37
My tongue was firmly in my cheek 'orca' regarding the 'stealing'. However I adjudge you will recall now not seeing your recent - the other day - one liner post which followed several posts answering the 'auto land question' - now gone? I'm baffled - but I'm used to it. :} Tristar thread - what is that? :hmm: