What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?

[dedalos]

The systems can get hacked into, and as long as that happens, there will always be a need for pilots

Have you hacked into a lot of systems like that?  .  It is easier to pay off/brain wash/black mail/you name it, a pilot than it is to hack into a system like that.  Hacking is very easily prevented by not connecting that network to the rest of the world.  Unless you think those systems also include a browser so you can check your email 

And btw, what exactly do pilots do now?  These things almost fly them selves, they target buy them selves, etc.  Oh, right, someone has to press the button.

[clerick]

Have you hacked into a lot of systems like that?  .  It is easier to pay off/brain wash/black mail/you name it, a pilot than it is to hack into a system like that.  Hacking is very easily prevented by not connecting that network to the rest of the world.  Unless you think those systems also include a browser so you can check your email 

And btw, what exactly do pilots do now?  These things almost fly them selves, they target buy them selves, etc.  Oh, right, someone has to press the button.

There is a report out now that a large number of UAV's have a virus.  Last I heard, the DOD can't figure out how it got there, why it's there and how to get rid of it.

[dedalos]

There is a report out now that a large number of UAV's have a virus.  Last I heard, the DOD can't figure out how it got there, why it's there and how to get rid of it.

Unless the people in charge of these systems are complete morons, all I can do is  at the report.  If they are, well, you can't fix stupid but that is not a fault of the systems and stupid but you can remove it.  Most likely the report does not even exist or is fake though.

[clerick]

... Most likely the report does not even exist or is fake though.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/tech/innovation/virus-hits-drone-fleet-wired/index.html

[dedalos]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/tech/innovation/virus-hits-drone-fleet-wired/index.html

you realize that if what this article is saying is indeed true, we are doomed? lol  What idiot is working on and managing these systems?  It better be an inside job to either test security or someone with security access.  Not to mention that these things should be running on their own OS and not commercial OSs that are well documented and have people dedicated writing viruses for.  I sure hope this is a joke or inside job other wise it is a testament to the stupidity of the people we put in charge.  They should all get fired.  Shot, if these things are running on windows.

[Shuffler]

[Blackwulf]

As far as the airframes, carbon nanotubes look promising.  But it is going to be a while before they are practical and economical.  Of course, that is what they said about carbon fiber a few years ago, too.

[Greebo]

It is hard to see planes looking a lot different to how they do now. Sure, the structures, engines and electronics will evolve but the shape of an aircraft is largely controlled by aerodynamics and that is a pretty well understood science. Concorde apart, the shape of airliners hasn't changed much since the Boeing 707. Fuel costs, sonic booms and environmentalism will stop most airliners getting faster and passenger resistance will prevent blended body flying wings becoming popular. A hypersonic, edge-of-space type airliner might be something that could have a radically different look though.

It's the same with military aircraft, the F-22 isn't vastly different to an F-15 to look at despite the stealth, the Eurofighter has echoes of the Saab Viggen and F-16 and so on. Even odd looking planes like the B-2 have been done before (Horten, YB-49 etc.) The latest transport aircraft and helicopters all look much the same as their predecessors. UAVs have some scope to look different but even most of these have echoes of previous manned designs as well.

[uptown]

My prediktion.

[Raptor]

[Shuffler]

Another possibility.....

[clerick]

or this...