Ender's Air Force
Ender Wiggin wouldn't be surprised to hear it, but Britain may replace its Royal Air Force pilots with video gamers for combat drone sorties:
The Royal Air Force (RAF) announced Saturday that pilots without full combat training will replace top guns in controlling unmanned Reaper planes in 'frontline missions' in Afghanistan as part of a plan to reduce costs...Although a small mistake by the remote-controlled pilot can be lethal for civilians or friendly forces nearby, RAF chiefs, believe that 'lower grade' pilots with 30 hours' basic flying training can fly sensitive missions over Afghanistan...
It appears that RAF chiefs have based their claim on studies suggesting that the best drone crews are often young 'video-game players' rather than 'experienced fighter pilots'.
Of course, 'experienced fighter pilots' may eventually bow to gamers, especially after hearing about the top-notch US drone pilot whose skills came from playing Xbox.
It was all great when this stuff was confined to science fiction, but the reality is a little scarier. I shudder to think what might happen to the front when our drone pilots get the munchies and go raid the mess hall pantry!
RAF May Replace Pilots with Gamers for Combat Drone Sorties [GamePolitics]
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 4 March 2009
· Comments (4)
Other stuff like this: fighter pilots, gamers, royal air force
Nice use of an inbred German to showcase the Royal Air Force.
I think the inbred German is cute :-P
If our air force isn't composed entirely of inbred Germans then I don't know which is up and which is down any more.
Don't make fun of Prince William! He's adorable and sexy to boot! :)