[Closed] Can you think of anything more ironic than this?

It's carrying [i]all[/i] our private medical records - that's what "they" are not telling you.

It just makes me wonder how [i]"the most advanced aircraft ever built in Britain"[/i] compares to the the most advanced aircraft built in other countries.
Is it in the top 5? the top 10?

I would tell you the answer, but it's a secret.

...and it's already 4 years old.

It raiaiained, on my wedding day. Pretty sure that beats your plane story

noteeth - Member
It's carrying all our private medical records - that's what "they" are not telling you.

POSTED 6 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

MrsT has not given permission

Mrs Thatcher is flying it??!?!

For the RAF the term "drone" is a misnomer. But "killer robot" would be even worse.

😆

All I needed was a knife. Spoons. So many damned spoons.

Can't wait for someone to bring out a scaled down RC version 😀

So its a secret like that top secret nuclear sub that bumped into the coast near Skye and was venting steam in full view of everyone for days....

Or secret, like the location of the top secret Top Gear test track ....

"In three years, Cyberdyne will become the largest supplier of military computer systems. All stealth bombers are upgraded with Cyberdyne computers, becoming fully unmanned. Afterwards, they fly with a perfect operational record. The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes online on August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware 2:14 AM, Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug."

Skynet fights back.

I was on a flight the other day, all paid up, and then they went and told me I could have got it for free. Irony doesn't even cover it

Can't wait for someone to bring out a scaled down RC version

Given the endless out-sourcing fug-ups of MOD (Crapita running recruitment being a recent & shining example...), I can't help but think that much of it would be better (& more [i]conscientiously[/i]) done by Airfix. The detail will be bang-on - just up-scale the procurement.

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Don't tell him Pike!

Skynet already exists but shhh dont tell anyone its top secret.

That secret nuclear bunker always makes me giggle when I drive past.. 🙂

Air Vice Marshall Sue Grey, the director of the RAF's Combat Air, admits the aircraft is capable of flying itself but she stresses there "[b]will always be a man in the loop"[/b].

Because a woman couldnt reverse park the expensive toy/murder weapon.

But over the past few years there has been no publicity surrounding its development.

Taranis - named after the Celtic god of thunder - was first unveiled BAE Systems in 2010.

It was a glitzy ceremony in an aircraft hangar, with moody music and flashing lights. Rather odd given that it is supposed to be a "classified" or top secret programme, partly funded by the Ministry of Defence.

Personally, I call troll.

[img] [/img]

Is this another step in the photoshop/papier mache arms race?

I thought North Korea already won that, closely followed by Israel...

In order for it to be considered "advanced" it must meet the following criteria:

1. Waaayyy over budget. A multiple of 3x or more is considered the minimum.

2. Waaayyy behind schedule. Advanced things take at least 2 to 3 times as long to develop as originally projected.

3. Cannot meet original performance specifications, it is so cutting edge.

It is a little known fact that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was actually started during WW II! 😉 Now that's advanced!

wikipedia - development of UAVs was a key part of the UK's Defence Industrial Strategy, which was announced in December 2005

wikipedia - A scale model of the Taranis UCAV on display at the 2008 Farnborough Airshow.

Hasn't been secret, ever.

It just makes me wonder how "the most advanced aircraft ever built in Britain" compares to the the most advanced aircraft built in other countries.

pretty comparable to other UAVs I'd guess.

wikipedia [b]again[/b] Northrop_Grumman_X-47B...

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
AVIC Sharp Sword
[b]BAE Taranis[/b]
Boeing Bird of Prey
Boeing Phantom Ray
Boeing X-45
Dassault nEUROn
EADS Barracuda
General Atomics Avenger
Lockheed Martin Polecat
McDonnell Douglas X-36
MiG Skat
Northrop Grumman RQ-180

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I think you fail to understand the term 'secret'. You know that MI6 exists but could you tell me what specifically they're working on?

The delta wing/stealth shape concept is common knowledge. You try and google the specifics of the control systems/etc that Taranis runs.

But I do like the 'secret nuclear bunker' 🙂

So its a secret like that top secret nuclear sub that bumped into the coast near Skye and was venting steam in full view of everyone for days....

Well that didn't happen like that.

Wasn't there for days and wasn't venting steam.

MiG Skat

chuckle 😀

So.. is this thing autonomous or just remotely controlled?

Both I believe. But they don't like to let people know it may be the former because of Terminator and legal implications.

Is it just me or is the front 'window' like something out of a sci-fi film? Can't place it, was either a plane or a robot or something with a triangular 'face'

They do seem to have copied an awful lot from the f117 and B2, especially the undercarriage flaps.

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[img] [/img]

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They do seem to have copied an awful lot from the f117 and B2, especially the undercarriage flaps

I believe the film you are refering to was 'stealth'

Utterly forgettable film to be fair.

molgrips - Member
So.. is this thing autonomous or just remotely controlled?

There's actually not that much difference. The answer though is both.

rickmeister: I've been there - it's worth a visit - very interesting place.

http://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/scotlands-secret-bunker-p254671

Bong! This is today's Not News:

Stealth things look stealthy.

Bong!