Photos First flight trials of Taranis aircraft

[Matzos]

The most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers made its maiden flight at an undisclosed test range on Saturday 10 August 2013 under the command of BAE Systems test pilot Bob Fraser. MOD has today revealed that the demonstrator aircraft made a perfect take-off, rotation, ‘climb-out’ and landing on its 15-minute first flight. A number of flights took place last year, of up to 1 hour in duration and at a variety of altitudes and speeds.
The Taranis demonstrator is the result of 1.5 million man-hours of work by the UK’s leading scientists, aerodynamicists and systems engineers from 250 UK companies.The aircraft has been designed to demonstrate the UK’s ability to create an unmanned air system which, under the control of a human operator, is capable of undertaking sustained surveillance, marking targets, gathering intelligence, deterring adversaries and carrying out strikes in hostile territory.
The findings from the aircraft’s flights prove that the UK has developed a significant lead in understanding unmanned aircraft which can strike with precision over a long range whilst remaining undetected.

The technological advances made through Taranis will also help MOD and the Royal Air Force make decisions on the future mix of manned and unmanned fast jet aircraft and how they will operate together in a safe and effective manner for the UK’s defences. Costing £185 million and funded jointly by MOD and UK industry, the Taranis demonstrator aircraft was formally unveiled in July 2010, but only a very limited number of scientists and engineers have ever been given full access to the top secret aircraft.
Initial ‘power-up’ or ground testing commenced later in 2010 at BAE Systems’ military aircraft factory in Warton, Lancashire, followed by a comprehensive and highly detailed programme of pre-first-flight milestones. These included unmanned pilot training, radar cross-section measurements, ground station system integration and, in April 2013, taxi trials on the runway at Warton.
The aircraft and its ground station were then shipped from Warton to the test-range before being reassembled and undergoing systems and diagnostics checks. Taranis then made a number of high speed taxi tests in July before its maiden flight in August 2013.

Source - MOD

Bye, bye airbourne combat pilots

 

[Bombardier]

This was always going to happen mate. I doubt we will ever see squadrons of unmanned aircraft in our time.
Imagine the public outcry when these things are flying over Public airspace!, it will take decades for them to prove there air worthiness and put the publics fears at bay.

 

[Matzos]

True mate, but its going to happen one day.
I see that now newly trained UK drone pilots are now being awarded the "wings" without even seeing an airplane.

 

[Bombardier]

I see that now newly trained UK drone pilots are now being awarded the "wings" without even seeing an airplane.

I think they should come up with a special design of wings for pilots such as these.
That way we can see the real pilots from the armchair pilots.

 

[Matzos]

I think they should come up with a special design of wings for pilots such as these.
That way we can see the real pilots from the armchair pilots.

They are the same as normal pilot wings but with blue in them.

 

[Bombardier]

Something like this maybe

 

[Bombardier]

They are the same as normal pilot wings but with blue in them.

A bit misleading that badge, unless the powers that be dont want them to be easily identified?

 

[Matzos]

Normal pilots wings have the laurel leaf of brown. So these boys are going to standout a bit!

 

[Bombardier]

A Taranis UCAV on display at Farnborough Airshow

 

[Bombardier]

More information from the Ministry of defence about the Flight testing of the Taranis
CLICK HERE

 

[Drone_pilot]

True mate, but its going to happen one day.
I see that now newly trained UK drone pilots are now being awarded the "wings" without even seeing an airplane.

Where do i get mine.