Passing Gas - Super Hornet refueled by Stingray Drone for first time!

[Sky Captain]

Interesting news in Popular Mechanics today that the U.S. Navy has refueled an F/A-18 Super Hornet by MQ-25 Stingray Drone for the first time.

Direct Link: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a36650966/watch-navy-stingray-drone-refuel-super-hornet-midair/?fbclid=IwAR324S9c38kohCoyrOlBOIrsWeHKcMYw1-8SbbW14C3SwMT1Uh2PlO74E7w

The story made me wonder how long it will be before refueling drones appear in Star Citizen? And will they fit on a Polaris and come with LTI?

 

[BUTUZ]

I pass gass quite regularly, it's nothing special.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

Although it is doubtful we'll ever be able to send out sorties of ships with no player in command, the fact we will be able to hire NPC pilots suggests we'll be able to command small squadrons of our own. If that happens, it seems to me likely we'll also be able to command ships to return to base from those small squadrons.

If all that comes to pass, you can consider the Vulcan to be a refueling drone. Though you will probably never be able to order an unmanned drone into the field, you could hire an NPC pilot for a Vulcan, and have the Vulcan accompany your Vanguard, your Corvair, etc--matches well with any ship flying medium quantum drives. If you're commanding an entire wing of Vanguards, you might even find that keeping a Vulcan for each triples their range, etc. So depending upon how liberal CIG decides to be with NPC pilots, it is possible a single player could pilot a Sentinel and half dozen Harbingers in tow, and seven Vulcans all flying together (14 ships), all commanded by one person, and that person could top off Vanguard tanks just before attacking and send all the Vulcans home, or set them to hide where they can be used again.

 

[Bambooza]

Although it is doubtful we'll ever be able to send out sorties of ships with no player in command, the fact we will be able to hire NPC pilots suggests we'll be able to command small squadrons of our own. If that happens, it seems to me likely we'll also be able to command ships to return to base from those small squadrons.

If all that comes to pass, you can consider the Vulcan to be a refueling drone. Though you will probably never be able to order an unmanned drone into the field, you could hire an NPC pilot for a Vulcan, and have the Vulcan accompany your Vanguard, your Corvair, etc--matches well with any ship flying medium quantum drives. If you're commanding an entire wing of Vanguards, you might even find that keeping a Vulcan for each triples their range, etc. So depending upon how liberal CIG decides to be with NPC pilots, it is possible a single player could pilot a Sentinel and half dozen Harbingers in tow, and seven dozen Vulcans all flying together (14 ships), all commanded by one person, and that person could top off Vanguard tanks just before attacking and send all the Vulcans home, or set them to hide where they can be used again.

Not sure about this. CIG was pretty clear that hired escorts come with their own ships and would not solo fly ships you provide. That these hired escorts would be contract based upon the beacon system so you'd create your own mission that other players/npc would accept ie escort me from point A to point B and not really allow for ambiguous missions like escort me for the next few hours. The other way was in the possibility of hiring crew but even then they were clear that it's only while you or another player are on the ship and they will not be able to pilot other ships you bring along in your Idris (escort wings might be able to dock to refuel/rearm/repair) It then applies to ships that another player agent smiths into an AI on your ship pilots a fighter then disconnects before returning back to the Idris the AI pilot would most likely return to the Idris park and then go about their normal tasks. Chris has been over the years very adamant about wanting players to play the game together and not have automation.

So back to the OP you'll in some ways be able to have drones refill your ship as there is the Vulcan with its refueling drones that can be controlled by AI fulfilling a mission request.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

That is all intel I had not seen, so thanks for that. However, it still sounds like you'll be able to hire NPC Vulcan pilots to refuel you at a stated location. It remains to be seen what the prices would be if that location is deep in Vanduul territory.

 

[CosmicTrader]

Very COOL.

 

[Bambooza]

That is all intel I had not seen, so thanks for that. However, it still sounds like you'll be able to hire NPC Vulcan pilots to refuel you at a stated location. It remains to be seen what the prices would be if that location is deep in Vanduul territory.

Who knows. But the question is why are they alone in Vanduul space without fellow testies?

 

[Sky Captain]

Interesting. So maybe we'll be able to drop a refueling beacon and an NPC flying a Vulcan will show up and refuel us?

 

[maynard]

midflight refueling IRL is dangerous AF

when I was a kid a neighbor was an Air Force tanker pilot

the slightest glitch in lining up the fuel line and it would penetrate the cockpit of the plane getting refueled

anything that eliminates opportunities for human error is a good thing

in the PU, 900 year in the future, I don't expect any problems

 

[Bambooza]

Interesting. So maybe we'll be able to drop a refueling beacon and an NPC flying a Vulcan will show up and refuel us?

That’s the plan.