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

[SpazSinbad]

NO ARF Demo for X-47Bs

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

[SpazSinbad]

2nd of 3 X-47B tests to start 15 July 2013

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.o...S-07112013.jpg

[SpazSinbad]

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/im...-AmyButler.jpg



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

[SpazSinbad]

Fanks for dem details Amy

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

[SpazSinbad]

No.2 Wire Arrest 10 July 2013, 2nd Arrest of Two

http://dmn.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/w...-502-X-47B.jpg

Click thumbnail:

[SpazSinbad]

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:

[SpazSinbad]

X-47B Carrier Landing Testing Finished

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

[GreenKnight121]

X-47B = 2 of 4 on deck landing attempts.

Not bad for a developmental prototype.

[SpazSinbad]

Hi Powered LSOs Bring the X-47B Aboard the BUSH

Good selection of First Arrest X-47B photos here:

USS Bush makes history, traps X-47B - The Flagship: Top Stories

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.townn...1700.hires.jpg

Click Thumbnail Edit/Crop Example:

[orca]

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]

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]

"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]

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-aircr...ml#post7844704 .... Then... http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ml#post7844720 .... Then then.... http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ml#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]

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]

'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]

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]

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]

X-47B Controlled by... a few including VX-23 LSO

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/photo...-ZZ999-004.jpg

Click Left/Right Thumbnail:

Here we go: X-47B Accomplishes First Ever Carrier Touch and Go aboard CVN 77

"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/phot...-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/Paddl...ctober2012.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
&
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/in...ownload&id=671 [PDF 2.8Mb]

[orca]

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]

'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.