One of the toughest tasks in all of aviation is landing a jet on the narrow, rolling deck of an aircraft carrier. It might be even tougher when the job is done without a pilot on board. Yesterday an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator successfully completed not one but two landings aboard the USS George H.W. Bush off the Virginia coast.
The X-47B, which is not intended for operational use, made a 35-minute flight from Patuxent River to the carrier and successfully landed, catching the 3 wire and coming to a stop from 145 knots in 350 feet. The Navy says the technology has been proven and is looking forward to integrating unmanned systems into carrier operations soon.
Check out the video here.
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