Regarding the time frame for pilotless aircraft, in the year in which I joined the RAF as a prospective pilot, 1957, the then-government forecast the end of manned aircraft.
This news caused the CAS, Sir Dermot Boyle as I recall, to visit to inspire us by stating that it would not affect us newly-recruited people. He did actually state that it was not beyond the imagination that the soon-to-be operational Lightning fighter would eventually take on the ground attack role. I don't know if that prediction was realised.
There are areas of aviation where unmanned aircraft will, and do, operate, but I think we should forget large aircraft carrying freight and passengers in the foreseeable future.