MQ-9 Reaper.

[Ferry_vO]

Before working on and releasing the Cessna 310, Rob Richardson posted a few previews of the MQ-9 Reaper drone on his website. But due to lack of response and some controversy regarding the real deal Rob isn't sure if it's worth continuing with this project. So, would you be interested in flying a civil version (Currently NASA and homeland security) of this UAV?

I've been flying this early version tonight, and I know I would like to see it finished!:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-07-53-65_zps0a32c1e9.jpg~original (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/Ferror/media/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-07-53-65_zps0a32c1e9.jpg.html)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-09-25-41_zpsa3b0a833.jpg~original (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/Ferror/media/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-09-25-41_zpsa3b0a833.jpg.html)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-14-12-01_zpsd3ced8c5.jpg~original (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/Ferror/media/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-14-12-01_zpsd3ced8c5.jpg.html)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-17-43-42_zpsaedec077.jpg~original (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/Ferror/media/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-17-43-42_zpsaedec077.jpg.html)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-27-54-57_zpsa5c89803.jpg~original (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/Ferror/media/Flightsim/fsx2013-08-2323-27-54-57_zpsa5c89803.jpg.html)

[kilo delta]

I'd personally love to see it completed (and armed,if possible) :)

[stovall]

"So, would you be interested in flying a civil version (Currently NASA and homeland security) of this UAV?"

Definitely interested here. UAV are the future and this is a beauty. Count me in as very interested. Great work.

[ST0RM]

Armed with a proper vc view from a screen, etc...

Nice model!

-Jeff

[MCDesigns]

man, that looks great! Forget the controversy, I say bring it! You can never have enough UAVs!!

I got a place on the tarmac ready and waiting, LOL. :icon30:

http://imageshack.us/a/img23/6830/pmzx.jpg

[txnetcop]

I hope he pursues this...yahooooooooooooooooo!!!
Ted

[CWOJackson]

Very nice!

Put it in USCG livery and use it for SAR.

[Sundog]

I hope he pursues it and also releases an AI version as well. It would be great to have a drone that can "drone" in the sim, that I could see on patrol when flying in another aircraft.

[Skyhawk_310R]

Please, RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft), not drone.

Drones were targets mostly flown autonomously. These aircraft are very much flown all the time by a pilot. Plus, they drop bombs and fire air-to-ground missiles -- the exact opposite of drones.

Cheers,

Ken

[Sieggie]

The Iranians consider them drones ;)

Dave

[MCDesigns]

I found this interesting, what countries have them and what kind

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/aug/03/drone-stocks-by-country

[b52bob]

Yes yes yes

Truly brilliant!

[PutPut]

I would love to see it completed.

:jump: :jump:

Paul

[Ferry_vO]

Armed with a proper vc view from a screen, etc...




The VC might be a problem; the aircraft obviously doesn't have a cockpit, and the ground station is quite complex (On the MQ-1 I see two seats and no less than fourteen screens..) and not very practical for Fs purposes. Well see what Rob thinks is the best solution.

Good to see there are people interested in this project! :applause:

[hae5904]

Why not a sort of HUD , with all flight data on the screen. While the screen is being fully rotatable as a FLIR/Camera? Seen that being used on most RCA...just a thought.

Cheers,
Hank

[Ferry_vO]

Why not a sort of HUD , with all flight data on the screen. While the screen is being fully rotatable as a FLIR/Camera? Seen that being used on most RCA...just a thought.



That was my suggestion to Rob too, Hank. We'll have to wait and see what he decides when he returns from his holiday.

[Dev One]

I did that on my Jindivik - tried to reproduce the main screen of the Ground Station at Llanbedr. Unfortunately its over at Britsim which is currently offline.
Keith92328

[b24_witchcraft]

Definitely interested in this! :applause::applause::applause: An armed edition would be great too!

[ST0RM]

Why not a sort of HUD , with all flight data on the screen. While the screen is being fully rotatable as a FLIR/Camera? Seen that being used on most RCA...just a thought.

Cheers,
Hank

Yes, exactly what I was thinking. The view from the screen with HUD overlay so you can fly it properly. Having a ground station view would shift it too far back to effectively see anything.

Can't wait.

[Skyhawk_310R]

The Iranians consider them drones ;)

Dave

No, the Iranians considered it a cheap opportunity to act up, and then failed in doing what they apparently set out to do.

But, jokes aside, since this forum frowns upon political statements, I'm really prevented from saying what I wanted to say.

Ken

[lazarus]

Besides. Who care what the Iraniolas think about flight simming. Death to political correctness!

[Victory103]

For that much work on it, he should release it. One should fly it from the "tower" view vice using a VC. Be sure to remove all radios, and have it simulating loosing link but just flying around on it's own for a few hours! Seriously, the VC would be an issue, I do think the HUD view is the best option along with some form of sim'd IR view, so the user could put the RPA on auto and "scan" for targets/people.

[Skyhawk_310R]

The largest problem he faces in making it realistic is that General Atomics closely guards all its information. So, even simple things like how the HUD looks is restricted by the manufacturer.

Ultimately, the best thing to do is superimpose a standard military spec HUD display in green tint over top the view of the ground, and then have the view of the ground be linked to basic joystick controls so that there would be a way to map its ability to zoom in/out, and pan around, while at the same time assigning the primary joystick controls to normal pilot functions. The challenge for the gaming PC pilot would be to keep the aircraft flying properly while looking down at a small piece of ground while relying merely on the HUD instrumentation to keep proper alignment.

In other words, a lot like flying on instruments while in IMC, except you have the distraction of watching a small piece of the ground you look at. Go with a single standard radio using the default FSX interface (which itself is limited to just VHF). And remember, there is no automated system for takeoff and landing. It's pure manual pilot stuff, and it isn't easy!

Unfortunately, the more interesting elements could never be replicated. But, it would be a lot of challenging fun if they could.

Ken