Fwd: [New post] U.S. Navy catapults X-47B combat drone for the first time

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Subject: [New post] U.S. Navy catapults X-47B combat drone for the first time

David Cenciotti posted: "On Nov.29, the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator successfully completed its first land-based catapult launch from Naval Air Station Patuxent River. http://youtu.be/gHtMowd8eWc Hence, as China greeted the first successful landing on a " New post on The Aviationist U.S. Navy catapults X-47B combat drone for the first time by David Cenciotti On Nov.29, the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator successfully completed its first land-based catapult launch from Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Hence, as China greeted the first successful landing on a combat plane on its Liaoning aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy has made another significant step toward the future integration of drones on the carrier deck. A step that will make naval aviators as we know it no longer sitting in the cockpit of an embarked plane but piloting killer unmanned planes from a more comfortable chair inside a ground control station. Ground-based cat launches and recoveries will continue in the future at Pax River before the X-47B embarks on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) later this month for its initial sea trials. First carrier-based launches and recoveries by an autonomous, unmanned aircraft are expected in 2013. Image credit: U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki Related articles US Navy to get Unmanned Carrier Launched Surveillance & Strike stealthy drones Chinese TV airs first stunning footage of J-15 flight ops on board China's aircraft carrier Liaoning F-14 vs F-18: which one would you fly in combat?     All you need to know about arrested landings on U.S. aircraft carriers Naval Aviation Photography documentary shows missile, bomb, rocket release and impact in slow motion David Cenciotti | November 30, 2012 at 9:44 pm | Tags: aircraft carrier, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Northrop Grumman X-47B, UCAS, USS Harry S Truman | Categories: Aircraft Carriers, Drones | URL: http://wp.me/p2TYIs-3Zx Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://theaviationist.com/2012/11/30/x-47b-cat/