RL FA-18C missions are flown on autopilot?

[majapahit]

Lost the link but a YT stated 'RL FA-18C missions are flown/navigated almost completely on autopilot .. '

 

meaning WP following, AP HDG if necessary, all Auto-throttle, he demonstrated JDAM PP mission 'as would have been flown in Iraq' so many words.

 

This be true?

[razo+r]

Nope. How do you want to do CAS/Intercept with autopilot?

[majapahit]

Nope. How do you want to do CAS/Intercept with autopilot?

Meaning the A/G missions obviously,

coming to think about it,

this would regard A/G auto PP missions of course,

 

as in 'hit that nuclear facility in Iran' (or was that Iraq)

Edited August 4, 2019 by majapahit

[AvroLanc]

Meaning the A/G missions obviously,

coming to think about it,

this would regard A/G auto PP missions of course,

 

as in 'hit that nuclear facility in Iran' (or was that Iraq)

 

The A/P would be used at most for the admin / routine tasks. Cruise segments / holding patterns in non-hostile areas etc.

 

No one want to fight an autopilot disengagement, when surprised and forced to defend a threat.

 

There might be some specialized exceptions - aircraft with auto terrain following equipment would obviously use A/P, mainly during night sorties.

[WindyTX]

Why would you fight the autopilot they disengage if you push on it and it doesn't take too much force.

 

2nd why ask this question if a guy that flew it said it. You can always pick a time when obviously he wouldn't actually use the AP but having one example hardly proves the original point wrong.

 

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

Edited August 4, 2019 by WindyTX

[Eaglewings]

Lost the link but a YT stated 'RL FA-18C missions are flown/navigated almost completely on autopilot .. '

 

meaning WP following, AP HDG if necessary, all Auto-throttle, he demonstrated JDAM PP mission 'as would have been flown in Iraq' so many words.

 

This be true?

I would want to assume this can be down in a none lethal environment.

The autopilot function in present Hornet still has some features to be add like:

a. Waypoint auto-coupling function. This would automatically follow the mission way points without input from the pilot.

b. FD(flight director function): Delivery weapons with flight director can work for JDAM but at some point the pilot would have to control the aircraft.

 

If these features are inplemented, the Hornet could do auto navigation and delivers already programmed weapons.

 

This is a theory of mine and subject to correction from expert so I could be wrong or right to an extent.

[Fonz_408]

The YT'ER video was MAGZTV and it's this video op is talking about

 

[kengou]

No idea about the Hornet but I remember reading that the F-117 Nighthawks flew pretty much entirely missions on autopilot, the pilot just armed and consented to weapons release at the appropriate times.

[victorlima01]

I've talked to a couple of Hornet drivers who said they'd only ever use autopilot functions when on admin phases of their flights or stateside on cross-countries. Never when going over the beach. Same with autothrottle. Also, if you're a wingman you can pretty much forget an autopilot or atc exists... and most if not all USN flights are scheduled at least in sections. Solo flights are unusual from what I gather.