Blackhawk Flies Unmanned
 

https://www.defensenews.com/land/202...he-first-time/

For the first time, Black Hawk helicopter flies without anyone aboard

WASHINGTON — A UH-60 Alpha-model Black Hawk helicopter flew for the first time entirely unmanned as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, Sikorsky announced Feb. 8.…..

The aircraft performed pre-flight checks, took off and ran through a simulated Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system depicting the congested and complex New York City skyline. The 14,000-lb aircraft responded autonomously to the simulated skyscrapers, weaving through Manhattan, according to Cherepinsky. Then the aircraft landed by itself.….

Young and Cherepinsky said DARPA will transition the capability to the Army so it can kit out its current and future fleets with tailorable autonomous capability…..

Next month, the program will conduct the first flight of a fly-by-wire Mike-model Black Hawk, the most modern version of the Army’s utility helicopter fleet, at Fort Eustis, Virginia, the statement noted.

In a Blackhawk down scenario, it will have to able to comprehensively blow itself up too.

Sorry folks, unmanned is not PC; has to be "uninhabited"

I prefer unpersoned, because "inhabited" and its converse could mean any life form. Such as a flea.

[I maliciously suggested the sidesmen [both genders] at church should become "sidespersons". The suggestion was hailed as exemplary.

At first glance I read it as Biggles Flies Undone...

I wonder if anyone dares stencil “Hoskins” near the cockpit.

How do I Met. brief the flight?

[with difficulty, and a crap forecast, yes, but .....]

The elements that might affect pilotless include:
wind shear
icing
turbulence
lightning

Fk me.
Really...?

I'm sure it didn't perform all of them.
Yep.

Wondering how the troops in the back are going to feel with no one up front. Expendable

Uncrewed? Gender neutral and accurate.

Surely this should be titled 'HAL flies Blackhawk' ?? :rolleyes:

Yea, I was thinking an unmanned attack helo (e.g. Apache) would be a better candidate...

Already exposed that in Aliens when the drop ship piles in :}