From: Tony Williams 

Frank Haber wrote:
> Let's start a pool, "How many milliseconds would that thing keep flying
> after its fc computer fried?"  20?  100?

That was my thought when I read the print version of the article, and I'm
betting that a human pilot would be SOL too without computer assistance to
keep the thing stable. Then again, doesn't the same apply to most modern
fighter aircraft - unstable without computer assist? Even cars, come to
think of it. If the engine management system goes down most car engines
fall back to a "Keep Alive Mode" using hardwired electronics; the
engine will keep running, but not at all well.

Looking at illustrations of the unmanned concept I can't help thinking that
the transition from sub- to supersonic will be tricky to pull off. Rotating
the whole wing like a big helicopter blade while in flight must do some
weird things to the aerodynamics.

> Who said we're no good at assymetrical warfare?

The illustration of its supersonic config looked distinctly asymmetrical
- maybe taking advantage of gyroscope effects from the turbine to
balance things out?

> The MI complex will be ecstatic - one more long-term loser project.  And
> if by some miracle it actually works, well then, there's the carrier
> version.

I actually think it would work as UAV with clever software compensating for
the characteristics of the airframe. I think we'll begin to see that more
and more, and it lowers the barrier to entry for poorer nations: throw the
hardware together out of whatever you can get and use fancy programming to
make it work.

--
Tony

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