Unmanned drone cargo plane, why isn't it a thing?
Discussion
With the crisis in Ukraine and the inability for Western countries to fly in C-17 for food and other supplies, why haven't the worlds air forces considered making an autonomous C-17 style drone? If Russia manages to close off the western border of Ukraine, then supplying them by land will not be an option. Think of the Berlin air lift, and the recent evacuation of Kabul.
Downsides, easily captured if it lands, easy target to load it up with bad things.
It could still just parachute drop in it's cargo.
I guess it would be such a big fat target for any surface to air missile systems.
The only thing that I've seen that matches the description is some conceptual ideas from a company called Natilus
Downsides, easily captured if it lands, easy target to load it up with bad things.
It could still just parachute drop in it's cargo.
I guess it would be such a big fat target for any surface to air missile systems.
The only thing that I've seen that matches the description is some conceptual ideas from a company called Natilus
I thought of a Berlin-airlift-style operation too.
As Ukraine is still officially a sovereign nation and Russia would be daft to fire on NATO units on a humanitarian mission, would it be impossible to lay on an airborne transport operation? Or if NATO units would be provocative, civilian a/c?
As Ukraine is still officially a sovereign nation and Russia would be daft to fire on NATO units on a humanitarian mission, would it be impossible to lay on an airborne transport operation? Or if NATO units would be provocative, civilian a/c?
I don’t see why wouldn’t you just use human pilots and crew? These big transport aircraft need a load of people to do their thing both on the ground and in the air and to constantly make the decisions and interventions that need made, and probably more so on dodgy missions to dodgy locations.
Katzenjammer said:
I don’t see why wouldn’t you just use human pilots and crew? These big transport aircraft need a load of people to do their thing both on the ground and in the air and to constantly make the decisions and interventions that need made, and probably more so on dodgy missions to dodgy locations.
Yep for large aircraft removing the crew isn't a game changer on cost of operation.As for humanitarian flights into Ukraine would you trust that either side isn't going to blast you out of the sky? Neither side has a very good control of what its anti aircraft capabilities are doing, this is one of the reasons that the Russians aren't flying that much as they are worried that they would incur lots of friendly fire casualties.
Still need people to load it up first, then unload it the other end, and, as someone said previously, make decisions when things change.
Maybe Boris will use a jet (or two) from a sanctioned billionaire when he manages to get around to it. Only taken a week so far to come up with 2 names.
Maybe Boris will use a jet (or two) from a sanctioned billionaire when he manages to get around to it. Only taken a week so far to come up with 2 names.
BlimeyCharlie said:
Maybe Boris will use a jet (or two) from a sanctioned billionaire when he manages to get around to it. Only taken a week so far to come up with 2 names.
Don't believe everything your anti-Boris media tells you: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...It's not a thing because of the risk profile. The CAA and EASA s
t themselves (technical term) whenever it's discussed. The FAA only wet themselves. The USAF have given certificates of airworthiness to a couple of designs aimed at cargo and medivac. Eventually they'll probably give in on certification and UAM somewhere and allow this to happen. I said certification would be the major hurdle years ago, and guess what, certification is the major hurdle.
All this evtol air taxi passenger, fly from your home, land in a city centre crap will disappear except for places like Monaco and Dubai for UHNW ballers, and there will actually be an autonomous air cargo market, because, in some places, and in some settings, it makes sense.
Note, I have a professional interest in such systems.
t themselves (technical term) whenever it's discussed. The FAA only wet themselves. The USAF have given certificates of airworthiness to a couple of designs aimed at cargo and medivac. Eventually they'll probably give in on certification and UAM somewhere and allow this to happen. I said certification would be the major hurdle years ago, and guess what, certification is the major hurdle.All this evtol air taxi passenger, fly from your home, land in a city centre crap will disappear except for places like Monaco and Dubai for UHNW ballers, and there will actually be an autonomous air cargo market, because, in some places, and in some settings, it makes sense.
Note, I have a professional interest in such systems.
It has been trialled though - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-5867... - admittedly quite a short route and mainly over water...
Carbon Sasquatch said:
It has been trialled though - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-5867... - admittedly quite a short route and mainly over water...
Yes, there are a few small scale things around the world. Mainly post or medical supplies - low volume, high value, time sensitive stuff. Places like Scotland (Hebrides, Orkneys) and Scilly Isles. Funny how military drones which drop bombs are quite common now, yet peaceful cargo planes are still a problem!
Simpo Two said:
BlimeyCharlie said:
Maybe Boris will use a jet (or two) from a sanctioned billionaire when he manages to get around to it. Only taken a week so far to come up with 2 names.
Don't believe everything your anti-Boris media tells you: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...I meant (but failed to clarify) actual Sanctions, as opposed to a list of Sanctions, as in seize(d) assets etc.
Lot of talking, but no action, or hardly any action, unlike many other countries.
Must be difficult for Boris to actually Sanction wealthy donors/backers (who happen to be Russian).
Fence-sitter extraordinaire.
Condi said:
Carbon Sasquatch said:
It has been trialled though - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-5867... - admittedly quite a short route and mainly over water...
Yes, there are a few small scale things around the world. Mainly post or medical supplies - low volume, high value, time sensitive stuff. Places like Scotland (Hebrides, Orkneys) and Scilly Isles. Funny how military drones which drop bombs are quite common now, yet peaceful cargo planes are still a problem!
See Gatwick airport bring shut down because someone "saw a drone".
It took the best part of 20 years to get to a point where remotely piloted large drones were able to fly in controlled airspace as opposed to combat zones or military ranges.
Talksteer said:
Condi said:
Carbon Sasquatch said:
It has been trialled though - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-5867... - admittedly quite a short route and mainly over water...
Yes, there are a few small scale things around the world. Mainly post or medical supplies - low volume, high value, time sensitive stuff. Places like Scotland (Hebrides, Orkneys) and Scilly Isles. Funny how military drones which drop bombs are quite common now, yet peaceful cargo planes are still a problem!
See Gatwick airport bring shut down because someone "saw a drone".
It took the best part of 20 years to get to a point where remotely piloted large drones were able to fly in controlled airspace as opposed to combat zones or military ranges.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-...
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