gruntled

Video of Global Hawk unmanned refueling simulation. Conspiracy theorists say that Ali Machinichy was actually at the sticks:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/rqQh6ao_kfY[/youtube]

http://youtu.be/rqQh6ao_kfY

Edit: Sigh . . . does anything on this site work anymore? Apparently Youtube links are no longer embedded?

Flynstuff

My Feedback: (29)

Sweet. Not to brag, but my dad Vince was most likely behind the controls for this

That's one smart aircraft

gruntled

I would brag if it were my dad! I had assumed a computer was flying when I watched the video. More impressive if it was by hand. Is the purpose of in-air refueling for extra range or for added "loiter" time?

Flynstuff

My Feedback: (29)

Yes for longer range and loiter time. And your right, it's mostly computer.

Harley Condra

My Feedback: (4)

That's me second from the left during the wind tunnel tests of the Global Hawk model in December of 1995.
Our first flight occured on 28 Feb. 1998
The company was Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical Co. back then...Northrop Grumman bought us in June 1999 (NGC and Boeing, among others, were originally in the competition, but we won).

The picture was taken at the Microcraft low speed tunnel...(now Allied Aerospace) that was originally the General Dynamics Convair low speed tunnel in San Diego.
These days you can't etell one company from another without a program.

Left to right: Roy Arakawa, Wind Tunnel Model Designer, me, Test Engineer, Nick Bonafede, Aerodynamicist, and Arnie Otchin, Chief Aerodynamicist

Jeff...How's your dad? I haven't seen or talked to him since FJ a couple of years ago. Hope he's doing well. Please say Hi! and wish him well for me.

Flynstuff

My Feedback: (29)

Dad is doing very well. He is hoping to retire soon.
He spends most of his time on his boat at the Marina these days.

I will tell him you said hello. Hope all is well with you to.

bidrseed2

My Feedback: (2)

Does anyone know if there is a model global hawk available?

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

Thats so cool! What an awesome machine.

gruntled

If it had really been you flying it, it would have been doing rolling circles behind the tanker.
<br type="_moz" />

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

LOL