While what you say is true, 500, the Bush/Rummy "can't keep my mouth shut since I have to tell everyone how clever we are" team drove me to distraction with their weekly OPSEC violations while first 1, then 2, major armed conflicts were underway under their auspices.

I was reading stuff in the open press, at one point, that I was operating on which was classified with at least an S ... and some $^#%@$%!(*#$% had invited a reporter into (location X) and done a PR puff piece.

Don't get me started ... hmmm, seems I have already started ... Washington DC, since about the day W. J. Clinton was elected, has been "I have no idea what OPSEC is" personified. It is not confined to the current crowd.

W J Clinton
Well, what do you expect, if he can't keep his pants on, what hope has he of keeping his mouth shut:O

The one's that got me what cataloging in the press over time the weak points of various hardware. OK, everything has weak points but IMHO, no need to make it easy for everyone - especially those in the future that were not "on the ground" in Iraq to find out for themselves.

Drone, drone, DRONE!

Oh, FFS, it's not a flippin' drone. Drones were so-called for their fixed pitch noise as they flew past for anti-aircraft "ack ack" training and also for being called the De-Havilland Queen Bee like this one below:

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/unitedki...trainer-02.jpg

So drones are dumb target aircraft for surface to air practise or even air to air (like Jindivik or QF-4s).

RQ-170s are Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) and not a "drone" - although, this one may have been shot down so it might be deemed a "drone" after all :}

Lesson over

LJ

Semantics.

Since you understood the intent the term 'drone' obviously fits!

@Willy Whyte

I also understand the intent of the word "willy" so in your head it would obviously fit! :E

LJ

PS Banter mode off...

Lonewolf

Here is exactly what we are talking about.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/wo...ce-bid.html?hp

"Iran said over the weekend that it had recovered the RQ-170, the same drone deployed over Osama bin Laden’s compound before he was killed in May. Senior intelligence officials were disturbed that the drone was publicly discussed in the coverage of the Bin Laden raid, in part because of the fear of exposing its use over Iran."


Better to say nothing.You never know how much a slip up over realsing info about it on the Bin Laden raid lead to Iran adding 2 and 2 together and deciding to do something about it - ie if it's there, can we bring it down.

Just my HO.

That whole Bin Laden's dead and this is how we did it crowing was a SF disaster.

Yup, there is general acceptance that any unmanned (unpersonned...:rolleyes:) aircraft is a 'drone'. Apart, perhaps, from the drone community itself.

This is presumably because most people are fed up with the drone people inventing yet another acronym / abbreviation every few weeks....RPV, UAV, UCAV, UAS....WTF? It's a sodding DRONE, pure and simple

Well, looks like we've temporarily run out of stuff to talk about so squabbling instead.

Now BEagle, you're right, it must never be an Unmanned Air Vehicle. Totally non-PC and unacceptable. It can be an Unpopulated Air Vehicle or even Unpersonned, as you say.

Anyway, a drone is a bee.

500N, hadn't seen that article before.

M2

The term RPAS was invented by the two winged master race of Her majesty's RAF for two reasons:

1. In the face of many comments from Harry Public and the press, to emphasise that there is a qualified human being operating the vehicle, especially when decisions are made to drop a weapon or not.

2. To ensure that the said two winged master race is still relevant in the 21st century in the face of more automation. I mean you cannot have Scopies or Air traffikers or even worse simple sailors or god forbid, artillery types operating these things can you? Can you? I mean for a start, they don't have natty green overalls to wear do they?

And, of course, keep getting flying pay.

TAKE COVER!!!!!!

M2

Re "500N, hadn't seen that article before."

Neither had I, it was only published in today's NY Times newspaper
and on my daily read, I happened to notice it and thought it very relevant
to this thread.

Even the "Senior intelligence officials" call it a drone !!! :O

M2, don't mention flying pay. You know what will happen!

APG, now you've mentioned flying pay as well. Stop it!

I only mentioned it because Mach Two did. Anyway, the point is that drone (or whatever) drivers get flying pay to do it. So that would be why they have to wear green overalls.

Well, I won't mention it for a while. I'm off to a sandy place for a few days. See you children later. TTFN.

2 other interesting photos from different angles.

Fars News Agency :: Iran Displays Downed US Drone

Fars News Agency :: IRGC Commander Explains Downing of US Stealth Drone

If it is undamaged, then why are they hiding the underside?

Would that be where all the sensitive equipment would be located?

Could it be that this has been removed?

Looks too much like a model model tbh too many smooth surfaces and like propped upas in the models you see on stands at the likes of Farnborough and at Paris.

As a kid when building the Matchbox/Revell/Airfix/Hasagewa 1.72 kit models, had borrowed a book from the local library on how to create the perfect kit model and diorama and how to maximise use of a camera.

One page was on how to use a spacecraft model or satellite, suspend it with string on a blackboard background with stars dotted, and positioning of the camera on tripod with regard to distance and angle to produce a semi convincing picture of a satellite in space. Like the pre CGI and special effects used in films from the 40s onwards to the advent of George Lucas.

Anyhow it be nice if the Iranians put a couple of personnel beside said vehicle to determine scale and size.