One man glider for military operations -- science fiction becomes reality

[AndrewR]

Attack Wing: Glider Makes Waves With Stealth and Speed

Seriously, this is something I read about years ago in science fiction books (first one I remember was Walter Jon Williams' Voice of the Whirlwind -- AWESOME book), and I've wondered when it would become reality because the concepts aren't all that extraordinary. I would be surprised if USSOCOM isn't already using these or at least evaluating them for use, but it's pretty damn cool.

The article says, "You might wonder who would volunteer to test-pilot a glider traveling at such high speeds." Duh, you could have people lined up for that.

They need to work on the parachute landing though -- that's just not high speed enough.

 

[vi edit]

Flying tactical assault ninjas.

Both very cool and freaking scary at the same time.

 

[Mr Pickles]

I don't see the benefit for military use.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I don't see the benefit for military use.

Look up HAHO jumps, and it'll make more sense. Bottomline: You could release special operators from an aircraft (rapidly deployable) 100+ miles from a country's borders, allowing them to infiltrate undetected.

 

[Auric]

Yo, that is dope.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Auric
Yo, that is dope.

That's not dope. That's hype.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Sick. I want one.

 

[KB]

I would volunteer to test it.

 

[Baked]

Splat!

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: Auric
Yo, that is dope.

That's not dope. That's hype.

Hype? The inventor has done 50 test jumps with it. Sounds like more than hype to me.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: vi edit
Flying tactical assault ninjas.

Been done before:
Ninja

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: xboxist

Originally posted by: vi edit
Flying tactical assault ninjas.

Been done before:
Ninja

But that's just a flying assault ninja. This one has a built in HUD in his helmet and can jump from 30,000 feet and carry 100 pounds of weapons and gear. That's tactical right there.

 

[ViviTheMage]

how the hell does he land? haha i didn't watch all of the video.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I don't see the benefit for military use.

You're pretty blind then - lay off the pickle juice.

Like they said, this would be extremely helpful for chasing a moving target for hostage rescue or assassinations, or just the fact that it keeps large, lumbering airplanes out of harms way. It's light, much faster than parachuting, and is reusable.

The real question is - when will this go in place? And will it ever be cheap enough to provide for all of our airborne military troops?

 

[paulxcook]

Awesome. The video sucked though.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I don't see the benefit for military use.

You're pretty blind then - lay off the pickle juice.

Like they said, this would be extremely helpful for chasing a moving target for hostage rescue or assassinations, or just the fact that it keeps large, lumbering airplanes out of harms way. It's light, much faster than parachuting, and is reusable.

The real question is - when will this go in place? And will it ever be cheap enough to provide for all of our airborne military troops?

probably never, that kinda stuff is special forces training level

 

[xboxist]

Speaking from a purely entertainment point of view, for some reason I won't be satisfied with new technology of this breed until they can finally eliminate the need or a parachute to end the session. That just takes the entire badassedness out of it. I want to see people land using only the primary device and their own two feet.

I watched some base jumping vids where they used a similar gliding system but also had to end with a parachute. Obviously this is required if they want to live, but I guess I'm just waiting for actual future tech that allows for full control of movement in air.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I don't see the benefit for military use.

You're pretty blind then - lay off the pickle juice.

Like they said, this would be extremely helpful for chasing a moving target for hostage rescue or assassinations, or just the fact that it keeps large, lumbering airplanes out of harms way. It's light, much faster than parachuting, and is reusable.

The real question is - when will this go in place? And will it ever be cheap enough to provide for all of our airborne military troops?

Use it for chasing a moving target for hostage rescue or assassinations??? WTF??? The thing doesn't fly itself. You don't just drop the controls and whip out your sniper rifle from 3000 feet above and start picking off targets with accuracy. lol

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: xboxist
Speaking from a purely entertainment point of view, for some reason I won't be satisfied with new technology of this breed until they can finally eliminate the need or a parachute to end the session. That just takes the entire badassedness out of it. I want to see people land using only the primary device and their own two feet.

I watched some base jumping vids where they used a similar gliding system but also had to end with a parachute. Obviously this is required if they want to live, but I guess I'm just waiting for actual future tech that allows for full control of movement in air.

it also needs to be used to take off on its own as well. takeoffs and landings without parachutes = ultimate winnage.

 

[Queasy]

Reminds me of the 80s cartoon/toy line, The Centurions

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: xboxist

Originally posted by: vi edit
Flying tactical assault ninjas.

Been done before:
Ninja

Didn't you mean this ninja?

 

[SunnyD]

They're planning on attaching a small turbojet on it. Cool! Next one I want to see is one that allows people to take off from the ground!

 

[0roo0roo]

no chance.
weight..range would probably suck pretty hard unless size was increased to a point where you may as well use a small plane

 

[zoiks]

The video sucked.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
I don't see the benefit for military use.

You're pretty blind then - lay off the pickle juice.

Like they said, this would be extremely helpful for chasing a moving target for hostage rescue or assassinations, or just the fact that it keeps large, lumbering airplanes out of harms way. It's light, much faster than parachuting, and is reusable.

The real question is - when will this go in place? And will it ever be cheap enough to provide for all of our airborne military troops?

Use it for chasing a moving target for hostage rescue or assassinations??? WTF??? The thing doesn't fly itself. You don't just drop the controls and whip out your sniper rifle from 3000 feet above and start picking off targets with accuracy. lol

Well, no, but if your target is moving in a vehicle, the wing could help you position yourself quickly in advance of the target, even moreso if they could link the helmet HUD to a satellite feed from other sensors. Combine the HUD with a virtual ground mapping overlay showing landing zones, roads, and other features of interest...that would be pretty nifty.