Great interview of the first USAF pilot to fly Mig-29s

[eatthis]

How does the 'pilot' of the 'fighter' UAV 'check six' to see if the opponent is in that area?

By using their synthetic virtual display, Kit. 

Well yes, but I'm not convinced that such a system would actually do the job quickly enough. Currently the pilot decides that he should be 'checking six' and he turns his head and does so. He takes in a wide view as well as his direct view AT THE SAME TIME and of he sees anything in that wide view he will be able to switch to it, and decide if it's hostile or not.

A ground based pilot many miles away from his 'aircraft' will take the same decision that he needs to 'check six' but then has to select the correct view on his 'synthetic virtual display'. If he needs a wider view he'll have to zoom out and then back in again onto any potential target. I reckon that will take more time than a real pilot aboard a real aircraft at the current state of technology.

Maybe in 30-40 years time, but not soon.

track ir  

[PR19_Kit]

If the 'synthetic visual display' is as good as it's been reported on here the transparency, or otherwise, of the canopy should be irrelevant....

[DogfighterZen]

Well, judging by this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fm5vfGW5RY , i believe that the pilot on the ground will be able to see what the sensors are seeing, as if he was flying the mission inside an F-35. That makes Rickshaw's point much clearer to me, i guess they can simply start doing it, as soon as the technology is reliable enough.
But i thought lasers and gravity control were the future of military aircraft...

[rickshaw]

From my understanding the complaint about rear visibilty from the F-35 is more about the bulkhead behind the pilot, not so much the headroom.  The "B" is the worst of the three due to the lift fan right behing the pilot with a wider bulkheard right behind the seat. The "B" has a canopy of less length, with less glass than the A or C models.  

specifically an F-35B picture of the cockpit:





Looks like plenty of room.  Obviously the second one has the inlet for the lift-fan open but that would not normally be open in normal flight or combat.  As the pilot would be using the display in his cockpit visor, there is no need for him to turn his head around to "check six" in the way pilots in older aircraft did.

[eatthis]

How does the 'pilot' of the 'fighter' UAV 'check six' to see if the opponent is in that area?

By using their synthetic virtual display, Kit. 

Well yes, but I'm not convinced that such a system would actually do the job quickly enough. Currently the pilot decides that he should be 'checking six' and he turns his head and does so. He takes in a wide view as well as his direct view AT THE SAME TIME and of he sees anything in that wide view he will be able to switch to it, and decide if it's hostile or not.

A ground based pilot many miles away from his 'aircraft' will take the same decision that he needs to 'check six' but then has to select the correct view on his 'synthetic virtual display'. If he needs a wider view he'll have to zoom out and then back in again onto any potential target. I reckon that will take more time than a real pilot aboard a real aircraft at the current state of technology.

Maybe in 30-40 years time, but not soon.

track ir  

[eatthis]

How does the 'pilot' of the 'fighter' UAV 'check six' to see if the opponent is in that area?

By using their synthetic virtual display, Kit. 

Well yes, but I'm not convinced that such a system would actually do the job quickly enough. Currently the pilot decides that he should be 'checking six' and he turns his head and does so. He takes in a wide view as well as his direct view AT THE SAME TIME and of he sees anything in that wide view he will be able to switch to it, and decide if it's hostile or not.

A ground based pilot many miles away from his 'aircraft' will take the same decision that he needs to 'check six' but then has to select the correct view on his 'synthetic virtual display'. If he needs a wider view he'll have to zoom out and then back in again onto any potential target. I reckon that will take more time than a real pilot aboard a real aircraft at the current state of technology.

Maybe in 30-40 years time, but not soon.

track ir  

[PR19_Kit]

That's the third time you said that...............

[eatthis]

How does the 'pilot' of the 'fighter' UAV 'check six' to see if the opponent is in that area?

By using their synthetic virtual display, Kit. 

Well yes, but I'm not convinced that such a system would actually do the job quickly enough. Currently the pilot decides that he should be 'checking six' and he turns his head and does so. He takes in a wide view as well as his direct view AT THE SAME TIME and of he sees anything in that wide view he will be able to switch to it, and decide if it's hostile or not.

A ground based pilot many miles away from his 'aircraft' will take the same decision that he needs to 'check six' but then has to select the correct view on his 'synthetic virtual display'. If he needs a wider view he'll have to zoom out and then back in again onto any potential target. I reckon that will take more time than a real pilot aboard a real aircraft at the current state of technology.

Maybe in 30-40 years time, but not soon.

track ir  

[eatthis]

How does the 'pilot' of the 'fighter' UAV 'check six' to see if the opponent is in that area?

By using their synthetic virtual display, Kit. 

Well yes, but I'm not convinced that such a system would actually do the job quickly enough. Currently the pilot decides that he should be 'checking six' and he turns his head and does so. He takes in a wide view as well as his direct view AT THE SAME TIME and of he sees anything in that wide view he will be able to switch to it, and decide if it's hostile or not.

A ground based pilot many miles away from his 'aircraft' will take the same decision that he needs to 'check six' but then has to select the correct view on his 'synthetic virtual display'. If he needs a wider view he'll have to zoom out and then back in again onto any potential target. I reckon that will take more time than a real pilot aboard a real aircraft at the current state of technology.

Maybe in 30-40 years time, but not soon.

track ir  

[PR19_Kit]

Careful, people have been banned for less...............

[rickshaw]

Careful, people have been banned for less...............

I think he is suggesting that if one tracks the IR emissions from an enemy opponent you'll know where they are, Kit.   With modern EO, it possible to track in multiple levels of the spectrum and the F-35's is optimised for IR and IIRC possibly UV.   In otherwords, while it might not show up in the visible part of the light spectrum it will show in IR or UV ends of the spectrum and be trackable. 

[PR19_Kit]

Careful, people have been banned for less...............

I think he is suggesting that if one tracks the IR emissions from an enemy opponent you'll know where they are, Kit.   With modern EO, it possible to track in multiple levels of the spectrum and the F-35's is optimised for IR and IIRC possibly UV.   In otherwords, while it might not show up in the visible part of the light spectrum it will show in IR or UV ends of the spectrum and be trackable. 

I'm sure, but I don't think we need it to be mentioned FIVE times, and on two occasions twice in succession!

[Rheged]

Careful, people have been banned for less...............

I think he is suggesting that if one tracks the IR emissions from an enemy opponent you'll know where they are, Kit.   With modern EO, it possible to track in multiple levels of the spectrum and the F-35's is optimised for IR and IIRC possibly UV.   In otherwords, while it might not show up in the visible part of the light spectrum it will show in IR or UV ends of the spectrum and be trackable. 

I'm sure, but I don't think we need it to be mentioned FIVE times, and on two occasions twice in succession!

I think that this unfortunate occurrence is collateral damage from the recent site issues. That being the case, will administrators  grant an amnesty ?