Guys, can we cut the weinie wagging over who deployed the most, or who got shot at? It’s kind of embarrassing and totally non-germane to the discussion at hand. We going to start throwing down OPRs next?

MEM—I like the debate but have got to say this, lay off the “troops in the field” argument. It’s insulting. No one on here wants fielded soldiers/marines to get anything less than the best. You keep throwing that out there and implying if we disagree with your UAV manning concept that we somehow don’t care if they die. It’s insulting, and a cheap ploy, and wrong.

You have strong, well-articulated opinions. You may get better results airing them at UPT or fighter bases than on a online forum where pilots may have other interests (seriously, airlinepilotforums?). Back on point, your opinions are just that, opinions, not facts. You’re welcome to them, many of us on here don’t share them.

While I know the A10 ain’t the fastest machine out there, I’m kind of surprised to find that Predators operate at the same speeds, you sure about that?

You think only highly experienced aviators should “fly” UAVs, I don’t buy it. We routinely take Lts out of UPT, put them through training, and send them off to fly combat, single seat, in A-10s, F-16s, etc. I haven’t seen many arguments that we should only send 2000+hr field grade officers into combat in those airframes, why can’t we take a newby and put them in UAVs? You think it’s a horrible idea. I agree with you that post UPT SA is low but the way you build aviation experience is….experience. Why should it be any different in UAVs?

As for sending non-rated guys through, again we disagree. I think it’s worth looking into. They will not have much experience, true. See my argument above for young pilots. They won’t be pilots, true. I’m not sure it matters. I in no way shape or form equate operating a UAV with an airplane. I don’t think it’s the same thing. I think you can take a smart young officer, train them, and build them up the way we do smart young officers (and plenty of not smart ones too) in the flying world.

Bad analogy but one worth thinking about, we don’t train people to fly airplanes before sending them off to “fly” satellites, why should we with UAVs? Ultimately you regard UAVs as airplanes; currently myself--and I think many on this forum--aren’t convinced.

Separate issue, I’m not sure UAVs are all they’re cracked up to be. Anyone else find it odd that about the same time the DoD decided we needed a dramatic increase in ISR (leading to new UAV opportunities for all) we suddenly got several new small airframes—RC-12 anyone? Seen the projected numbers for that? And the AT-6 is suddenly looking closer to reality as well.