Boeing Receives First Engines for X-45C Unmanned Combat Aircraft

Boeing.com ^ | November 18, 2004 | Boeing

[Trueblackman]

You know you are wrong for this.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Why only mach 0.8?

Maybe for the same reason that the F-117 is a subsonic aircraft. Speed means heat, heat means visibility, visiblity is bad. The lower the heat signature overall on the airframe, the less visible it is to infrared systems.

[Darksheare]

Wonder if wake turbulence has anything to do with it as well.

[KwasiOwusu]

"this is a non event...."

Ant weapons system that enhances the ability of the United States to project its power vast distances from home, without risking American lives like the X-45 does is certainly NOT a nonevent to any American who cares about the defence of this country.
Plus Boeing is one of the strongest defense contractors in thias country.
Unless you are shilling for the nasty clowns at the European Airbus, I don't see why you should be having a problem with this post.

[TomB]

lol... ur really are funny ....

Here's a hint, sparky:

We're laughing AT you, not with you.

(Did Wal-Mart have a sale on periods today that I missed?)

[Red6]

Not that pics mean much, but that thing even looks bad ass!

It's going to be a strange day when the first enemy aircraft is wasted by an unmanned drone. But hey, why not? We fire rockets on moving cars in Yemen from a drone controled out of Langley in 2002. Why shouldn't we built this?

Red6

[dumpdaschle]

I am a relative newbie, and this is not an important breaking news event. But I have been here long enough to expect a post criticizing me for that. I expected that. If he hadn't criticized, someone else would have. That was an obligatory post on his part. No harm. Cool plane, huh?

[Major_Risktaker]

Why does it have a cockpit? ... for a zylon pilot?

Cylon Pilots

WOW!
Desk Top Bombing.

[Grut]

Why shouldn't we built this?

Well, for one thing, it would adversly affect promotions in the pilot career field... and if you think that's an odd consideration, look at what happened to the Air Force's Remotely Piloted Vehicle program after the Vietnam war. It was essentially canned, for essentially that reason.

Not that that's a good reason not to build it, but it gives some idea of the dynamics of the 'real' military and what may actually happen.

[fallujah-nuker]

Daschle was from South Dakota, his loss good news for all Americans. Perhaps you are thinking of former Speaker of the House Tom Foley who was from Spokane, he was dumped in 1994?

[TomB]

But I have been here long enough to expect a post criticizing me for that.

That is the problem with elections and other big events. They bring out all the moonbats. I recall the same thing happening at the turn of the millenium (ah, the good old "Y2K spam" threads) and the 2000 election. That is why I have hardly posted in the past few months, too many morons.

Don't worry, most of the "kewl" posters will have an attack of "short-attention-spanitis" and just, er, "move on".

Good post. Thanks.

[Kommodor]

That's a cool looking plane.

To those who aren't In The Know, a 0.8 mach cruising speed means that's its "efficient" cruising speed. Kind of like your car is typically geared to cruise at 65 MPH. The big deal with the F22 (one of them) is that it has the ability to cruise at mach 1+ without turning on the afterburners and dumping a lot of fuel (and losing range).

Somehow, I suspect that if they want it to go supersonic, it will. Kind of like if you want your car to go over 70. Just step on the gas a little harder.

Like the plane - thanks for the pic.

[Tealc]

Haven't you heard? There's nobody flying these things! :)

[glock rocks]

So the homeless can still clean the windsheild !

LMAO! So that's how we got it past the blue congresscritters.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

I love new developments in aerospace. Thanks for the great post. Keep it up.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[kitchen]

Where are the particle beam weapons?

[WildTurkey]

this is a non event....

If it is a non event, why did you come here and post your non event.

[Drammach]

What about ECM ? ( Electronic Counter Measures )
Seems to me that such aircraft would be susceptible to ECM, which would make them virtually worthless in a combat situation..

Anyone tried to JAM one of these things ?
Has ECM vulnerability even been considered ?

[PeterFinn]

My apologies...or congrats! Whichever is appropriate. Daschle fought Boeing tooth and nail and pushed getting the Air Force to buy its next gen tankers from Airbus. I'm glad the bastard is toast.

Three cheers for South Dakota!

Huzzah!Huzzah!Huzzah!

[Gibtx]

smile......