What does the “remote control” for a QF-4 look like?
$begingroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
$endgroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
edited 7 hours ago
Rodrigo de Azevedo
7741519
7741519
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
asked 17 hours ago
FattieFattie
325928
325928
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
$endgroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
edited 15 hours ago
ymb1
69.5k7220369
69.5k7220369
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
answered 16 hours ago
GerryGerry
11.4k13252
11.4k13252
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
15 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
14 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
8 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
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1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
3 hours ago