The Demon Aircraft is Signalling The End for Pilots!

                The Demon aircraft is signalling the end of pilots!

On September the 17th an unmanned research aircraft called the Demon took to the skies. The difference on this aircraft to any other is it doesn’t use wing flaps. Flaps are sections of the aircraft wing that can be lowered to affect the airflow.  The flaps on a conventional aircraft are used in take-off and landing cycles.

Manchester university in association with the huge BAE corporation has developed this step forward in aviation. The Demon uses several jets of air to replace the flaps as used on conventional aircraft.  The Demon isn’t converted from a aircraft to a drone aircraft.  The military has used drone’s for many years to help train pilots and missile systems.  A drone aircraft is usually shot down in combat scenarios.

The Demon.

The Demon was never designed with a pilot in mind!  The Demon aircraft has a very stealthy profile, as in it hardly appears on radar.  This stealth ability means the aircraft if used by the military can penetrate enemy airspace undetected.  When even a stealth aircraft lowers its flaps to attempt a landing or a take off it becomes more visible to enemy radar.

The flap-less aircraft has been designed with the military in mind and some of its materials and designes will be a heavily guarded secret.  Aircraft manufacturers are also interested in the Demon because it does not use flaps it is more cost effective as regards maintenance.  So all in all it is a remarkable prototype concept aircraft.

There are plans to make the Demon completely automated I.e. pilot-less at the moment ground staff help fly the Demon.  It brings up the question of pilot-less aircraft in general?  The technology is there right now, even modern passenger jet aircraft only use the pilot on take off and landings.  However the technology does exist to remove the pilot completely, it is only conventional thinking and safety concerns that keep a pilot and co-pilot on commercial air travel.

Drone aircraft today have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan to gather information on the Taliban.  I am of the opinion that I would like to fly in an aircraft that does have a pilot.  Machines can replace the pilot to carry out the mechanics of flying an aircraft.  However in times of emergency and decision making I would prefer a real flesh and blood pilot.

The counter argument for unmanned aircraft is for the military, it takes an immense amount of time and money to train a fighter pilot.  One lucky missile strike by the enemy in war time can destroy a multi million dollar aircraft and a very expensive pilot! 

My argument is not a new one and a definitive answer is not straight forward.  At least for the time being we will still have military and civilian pilots.  Aircraft like the Demon are pushing forward the frontiers of design.

Lord Banks