Originally Posted by
CrimsonEclipse
I love all of the communications majors here.
Oh, and it will fly, it has flown.
Likely a flying wing or BWB variant as a military refueler/cargo plane followed by civie cargo followed by single pilot pax.
And stop using the RQ-170 as an example.
You don't know what happened and you're guessing.
For the record: engineering background/degree/work experience.
Not contesting it
can fly...that's demonstrated. What I do find unlikely is public---or even govermental---acceptance.
Global Hawk has a dismal record...it's why the U-2 has not been retired. 40% of the initial Block were lost due to mechanicals. In one case, it disappeared...and they never did figure out where it went.
The RQ170 is not my "guess;" it is the generally accepted explanation, by various technical accounts. One analysis said it was as simple as the Air Force didn't encrypt the datalink, because they didn't think it was an Achilles Heel.
Point being: Germanwings, Silkair, and Egypt Air will raise doubts about single-pilot without a backup. All forms of electronic communication can be exploited, given the right adversary, time, and tactics.