Comments on: IS THE PILOT OBSOLETE? http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/09/is-the-pilot-obsolete/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:59:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Greg Goebel http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/09/is-the-pilot-obsolete/comment-page-1/#comment-1063483 Greg Goebel Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:53:31 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6285#comment-1063483 There was a widespread perception among the authorities in the later 1950s that missiles were going to obsolete manned combat aircraft in the near future. This led to cancellation of a lot of advanced aircraft programs, particularly in the UK There was a widespread perception among the authorities in the later 1950s that missiles
were going to obsolete manned combat aircraft in the near future. This led to cancellation
of a lot of advanced aircraft programs, particularly in the UK

]]> By: Tracy B. http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/09/is-the-pilot-obsolete/comment-page-1/#comment-1063362 Tracy B. Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:43:23 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6285#comment-1063362 Cruise missiles were developed before the ICBM. Northrop had the Snark. Cruise missiles were developed before the ICBM. Northrop had the Snark.

]]> By: hwertz http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/09/is-the-pilot-obsolete/comment-page-1/#comment-1063359 hwertz Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:26:48 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6285#comment-1063359 So true about the airlines having a pilot, even if just to watch the autopilot. An Airbus can take off automatically, fly on autopilot, and land on autopilot (at airports with enough ground equipment, to tell the plane exactly where it is in comparison to the runway). There's no tubes and relays to fail as there were in the 1950s, but autopilots will (occasionally) decide they should crash into the ground or some trees or whatever, thus the need for a pilot on board. Also, if nothing else, the autopilot doesn't taxi, and won't make any decisions on flying around bad weather. So true about the airlines having a pilot, even if just to watch the autopilot. An Airbus can take off automatically, fly on autopilot, and land on autopilot (at airports with enough ground equipment, to tell the plane exactly where it is in comparison to the runway). There’s no tubes and relays to fail as there were in the 1950s, but autopilots will (occasionally) decide they should crash into the ground or some trees or whatever, thus the need for a pilot on board. Also, if nothing else, the autopilot doesn’t taxi, and won’t make any decisions on flying around bad weather.

]]> By: Al http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/09/is-the-pilot-obsolete/comment-page-1/#comment-1063352 Al Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:19:32 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6285#comment-1063352 Funny thing that caught my eye here was the "B-61 Matador pilotless bomber". This was an early policy of the USAF - missiles were not missiles but were pilotless aircraft. The Matador was later re-designated as a missile and went through several iterations (finally being designated the MTM-1C) before finally being rendered obsolete and withdrawn from service in 1962. Funny thing that caught my eye here was the “B-61 Matador pilotless bomber”. This was an early policy of the USAF – missiles were not missiles but were pilotless aircraft.

The Matador was later re-designated as a missile and went through several iterations (finally being designated the MTM-1C) before finally being rendered obsolete and withdrawn from service in 1962.

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