air combat from a distance

[ghostrider]

Interesting article on warfare with remotely piloted aircraft:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/us/dr ... wanted=all" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[C-dub]

Good article. Some problems that the pilots in theater don't encounter. It's weird that while you are physically further away you are emotionally closer to your target.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'd be interested to see MadMonkey's reaction, since this is what he does for a living......although (correct me if you read this MadMonkey) I don't think he's flying Reapers, but some other kind of unmanned aircraft for intelligence purposes.

[MadMonkey]

I'd be interested to see MadMonkey's reaction, since this is what he does for a living......although (correct me if you read this MadMonkey) I don't think he's flying Reapers, but some other kind of unmanned aircraft for intelligence purposes.

I dunno if I'm the best person to ask since I'm pretty much emotionally detached all the time

I only fly ISR missions, so no big red button pushes for me, but you do get to see a LOT more into the local's daily lives than anyone else. It's interesting, but most of the time the only thing I'm feeling is frustration that these people are still living almost literally in the Stone Age.

There are definitely moments of extreme focus, such as watching for bad guys trying to escape a compound that our guys are taking down, or watching an an ambush unfold on unprepared troops, vehicle tracking, and stuff like that. But as for the connection that other operators feel... I don't really have it. Maybe it's because I'm actually over here instead of back home, but it's very difficult to feel anything toward someone who could be lobbing a mortar at you the next day.

It might stem from the comparitive safety of being in the USA while knowing you're destroying someone halfway around the world, who can't exactly reach you. I can see that bothering someone. Sometimes I WISH I had that problem!

And yeah, I dont fly Reapers or any of the big sexy UAVs everyone knows. I fly a smaller tactical aircraft you've most likely never heard of. Vacation next month! Looking forward to getting out of here for a while