What does the “remote control” for a QF-4 look like?
$begingroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
yesterday
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
yesterday
$begingroup$
hey @Sam ! - I'd use a mac. Actually just an iPad :) more seriously we'd use mac or linux (since those are unix) rather than windows, unless, you needed badass graphics cards for some reason, then i'd just use a gaming PC with windows, cuda etc as you say. I cannot tell in the photo below if those are running Windows! Which flavor of windows would it be in that era?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
$endgroup$
As I understand it a QF-4 is a Phantom which is converted to a remotely controlled plane for use in weapons testing.
(Apparently in non-destructive runs, a pilot is still on board for safety, convenience etc, but in actual "really shoot down the QF-4" runs, it is flown as a remotely controlled plane.)
I'd be amazed to see what the remote operator station for a QF-4 looks like.
Is it just a ... RC unit?
Is it just an ordinary PC, perhaps? Fly by mouse/keyboard?
I'm wondering is there a video feed from the pilot viewpoint included with the telemetry?
Is it perhaps flown from another chase plane?
Is it "control control" (the remote operator uses something to actually move the control surfaces, i.e. exactly as actually when flying a plane) or is it "concept control" (you just tell it, go to this point, this altitude etc and the software does that).
Can you land it using the remote system?
Do the operators of these get a chance to make any training flights, or is it just too expensive? The only time you get to take off, get shot at, and perhaps land is during actual runs as a target?
Again, I'd love to see a photo of what the control system/bay/iPhone app whatever looks like!
- Footnote. I believe the QF-4 is retired? Question applies to a QF-4 replacement!
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
military unmanned-aerial-vehicle f-4 remote-pilot
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
edited yesterday
Rodrigo de Azevedo
8021519
8021519
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
asked yesterday
FattieFattie
327928
327928
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
yesterday
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
yesterday
$begingroup$
hey @Sam ! - I'd use a mac. Actually just an iPad :) more seriously we'd use mac or linux (since those are unix) rather than windows, unless, you needed badass graphics cards for some reason, then i'd just use a gaming PC with windows, cuda etc as you say. I cannot tell in the photo below if those are running Windows! Which flavor of windows would it be in that era?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
yesterday
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
yesterday
$begingroup$
hey @Sam ! - I'd use a mac. Actually just an iPad :) more seriously we'd use mac or linux (since those are unix) rather than windows, unless, you needed badass graphics cards for some reason, then i'd just use a gaming PC with windows, cuda etc as you say. I cannot tell in the photo below if those are running Windows! Which flavor of windows would it be in that era?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
yesterday
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
yesterday
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
yesterday
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
yesterday
$begingroup$
hey @Sam ! - I'd use a mac. Actually just an iPad :) more seriously we'd use mac or linux (since those are unix) rather than windows, unless, you needed badass graphics cards for some reason, then i'd just use a gaming PC with windows, cuda etc as you say. I cannot tell in the photo below if those are running Windows! Which flavor of windows would it be in that era?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
$begingroup$
hey @Sam ! - I'd use a mac. Actually just an iPad :) more seriously we'd use mac or linux (since those are unix) rather than windows, unless, you needed badass graphics cards for some reason, then i'd just use a gaming PC with windows, cuda etc as you say. I cannot tell in the photo below if those are running Windows! Which flavor of windows would it be in that era?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
3
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
|
show 5 more comments
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "528"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2faviation.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f62047%2fwhat-does-the-remote-control-for-a-qf-4-look-like%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
3
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
3
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
$endgroup$
Here's a photo:
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Mudge, a ground controller for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, remotely pilots a QF-4 during a Combat Archer mission May 12, 2015 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
QF-4s were retired in 2016. They are now flying the QF-16.
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
edited yesterday
ymb1
69.7k7221369
69.7k7221369
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
answered yesterday
GerryGerry
11.4k13352
11.4k13352
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
3
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
|
show 5 more comments
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
3
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
1
1
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
Whoa !! Say, the image on the left under the man's arm: is that a camera (looking downwards at a bay/beach it looks like) or is that just mapping, I can't tell ... thanks!
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@Fattie Most likely it is just satellite imagery. I doubt they have a high-altitude chase plane/drone to follow around and beam real-time images (which would be affected by things like clouds or smog).
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
@RonBeyer - indeed, what I was wondering (my "point 3") - do these aircraft have a camera, which, feeds to the operator on the ground. Perhaps answered Gerry knows - it looks like "no" in this example anyway?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
2
2
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@Fattie The QF-4 can fly manned or unmanned. Usually the remote pilot only controls it for landing/take-off and then hands control over to an automated system. The automated system, when flown unmanned, can also blow up the aircraft if it becomes uncontrollable (explosives are loaded for this purpose). There is a chase plane when the QF-4 is transiting to the mission area and back for safety reasons.
$endgroup$
– Ron Beyer
yesterday
3
3
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
$begingroup$
I don't believe it counts toward "ace" when the plane shot down is yours.
$endgroup$
– Harper
yesterday
|
show 5 more comments
Thanks for contributing an answer to Aviation Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2faviation.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f62047%2fwhat-does-the-remote-control-for-a-qf-4-look-like%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
$begingroup$
I hope the USAF has paid for the ad-free version of the iPhone app!
$endgroup$
– David Richerby
yesterday
$begingroup$
LOl on that one DR !
$endgroup$
– Fattie
yesterday
$begingroup$
The air force contracts with government contractors to do stuff like the QF-4. They are generally forced to chose the lowest bidder that meets the contract. If you were a government contractor who made the lowest bid, and had a bunch of programmers and engineers who grew up on PC's, what do you think you would use?
$endgroup$
– Sam
yesterday
$begingroup$
hey @Sam ! - I'd use a mac. Actually just an iPad :) more seriously we'd use mac or linux (since those are unix) rather than windows, unless, you needed badass graphics cards for some reason, then i'd just use a gaming PC with windows, cuda etc as you say. I cannot tell in the photo below if those are running Windows! Which flavor of windows would it be in that era?
$endgroup$
– Fattie
14 hours ago