On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:47:52 -0000, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I've spoken with many of the Predator pilots. They fly out of Beale
which is down the street from me. Yes, they do talk to ATC by a GPS
relay on the aircraft. The aircraft has *NO* TCAS or avoidance gear
(although has an extra bay for one). As a result anytime the plane is
flying over the area the FAA requires a TFR the entire time its up
(since its single engine it may have to return). The take off and
landing is done local (Beale, Iraq, etc). The enroute is *ALL* flown
from Beale. They said its not stick and rudder flying, its point and
click flying. They only have a limited camera for looking for other
aircraft and basically say there is *NO* see and avoid possible.
Right now there are pilots in Beale AFB in California flying missions
over Iraq.

-Robert

I couldn't tell from the photo posted above if they have rudder
pedals, but the predator looks like it has rudders both on the v-tails
and on the downward directed rudder. Does the predator require rudder
pedals to fly it, or are the rudders on the aircraft auto connected to
the ailerons?



Kirk
PPL-ASEL