Northrop Grumman just released this dramatic promotion clip of the historic first catapult launch of a U.S. Navy unmanned aircraft system from a carrier, May 2013. Includes touch-and-go sequences. Amusing to watch the flight deck controller signalling to the aircraft as it taxis on the deck while the pilot is clearly standing right behind him…!
Source: YouTube
Of course the controller is signalling to the pilot as though he was in the plane……the pilot’s just elsewhere.
Interesting to see model airplanes done at the government level because I’m a model airplane pilot. As a private citizen, I’m hope whatever we gained in exchanged for sacrificing opsec (by demonstrating any aspect of it) was worth the price.