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

[0roo0roo]

eh, but as a glider its maneuverability is more suited to a fixed target. trying to head off a moving target is probably asking for trouble...i'm sure they mostly want to make sure the team doesn't land miles apart from each other.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: 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.

You wouldn't be able to position yourself quickly with this because this thing is not something that can be rapidly deployed. It's not like you can snap your fingers and have one of these things in the air at moments notice. They need to be loaded up on aircraft, the aircraft needs travel time to get to its launch destination, the wing then needs to be launched at the precise time... yada yada yada. Far too many variables in order for this to be used as you describe.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, and you can only control your flight so much with gliding. circling around losing altitude or finding thermals isn't the best way to hunt down a moving target.

 

[foghorn67]

next step... friggin rocket packs. And not the cumbersome one in the old James Bond movie.
Like the one in the mediocre Rocketeer movie with the hot Jennifer Connelly.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Using a parachute to land is going to nix stealthiness to a degree. Lot easier to spot a parachute than a human body.

Pre'cool though.

 

[everman]

Ninjas have been doing this for hundreds of years.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: everman
Flying squirrels have been doing this for thousands of years.

Fixed.

 

[sdifox]

shit, the landing must suck.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: 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!

This guy already beat them to it. Jet-Man!

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
Using a parachute to land is going to nix stealthiness to a degree. Lot easier to spot a parachute than a human body.

Pre'cool though.

It's not as easy as you might think.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
eh, but as a glider its maneuverability is more suited to a fixed target. trying to head off a moving target is probably asking for trouble...i'm sure they mostly want to make sure the team doesn't land miles apart from each other.

True, but if the range is 130 miles, and there is a rudder (and perhaps powered flight, that raises other issues though), there is SOME degree of control, much more than a parachute descent.

What we really need are jump capsules like Starship Troopers (the book, not that awful freakin' movie). Maneuverable, stealthy but also including decoys, and deployable from space. 30 years?

 

[DrPizza]

Jet man's got nothing on this guy: fly

I think that's about the first person to do this.

I was fucking first one to do it

Great video; I use it in physics class.

 

[condorazul]

Lego Ninjago Ninjas are much better

 

[Thebobo]

Drones are cheaper and safer.

 

[sdifox]

What is with the noob necro?