Page 1 of 2
Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 17 Dec 2009, 16:06
by airboatr
The US Air Force has decided that the term
Drone no longer accuately discribes
Remotely Piloted Aeral Vee Hicles.
so
the new terminology will be..
ready?.... grab hold of your socks......
Remotely Piloted aerial Vee Hicle
(accually it's "vehicle" but I like to say vee-Hicle")
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BF4DZ20091216
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 17 Dec 2009, 16:08
by WhisperJet
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 17 Dec 2009, 16:09
by fmansam
VEE - HICLE...............
have you been watching MASH by any chance.............
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 17 Dec 2009, 16:26
by airboatr
oh for heavens sakes call Merriam-Webster , Wiki and the rest... the term RP for rocket propelled must now be changed!!
Now RP is for Remotely Piloted..... crap it's all going to get screwed up
yes I watch MASH , but - the pronunciation of Vee Hilce was long before that, in fact , it probably
came from the Brits....... like everything else...
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 17 Dec 2009, 16:32
by Garry Russell
All those official droning on and on and on and on.............
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 17 Dec 2009, 19:10
by Chris Trott
Actually, the term RPV (which is the correct abbreviation) has been around for YEARs.
And in addition, the differentiation is important. Historically, a "drone" was something used as a target or for very limited reconnaisance operations and not as a primary tool for this. This goes back to the origin of the word - a male bee, who's only job is to impregnate a queen and die. A "drone" aircraft was designed to go out, do a single mission, and die or be destroyed. A "Remotely Piloted Vehicle" has historically meant a vehicle (air, land, or sea) that was designed to go out, do a mission via remote or radio control, and then return. You see this term used more commonly with underwater vehicles.
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 18 Dec 2009, 00:08
by airboatr
Chris it's a ...
all hell forget it ....to much like tryin to
eSplain whos on first to Rainman.
PS , thanks I won ten bucks on this one
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 18 Dec 2009, 11:19
by simondix
I thought RP was rocket projectile. Least they're changing it for unpolitical reasons, not because drone describes a politician.
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 18 Dec 2009, 14:36
by airboatr
Re: Can't say the "D" word anymore.
Posted: 19 Dec 2009, 00:08
by Chris Trott
Joe, sorry, but I don't consider it necessarily an issue that's a joke. In this case, there really is a need to change the term. There are far too many people who hear "Unmanned" and immediately forget that there is still someone (somewhere) controlling the thing and that it's not the dreaded "robotic killer" that we all "fear" thanks to Jim Cameron.
(BTW, I still love the Terminator franchise - no matter what they do, they still come. Beautiful way to make lost of money.
)
Now, giving the punters pilot wings and combat pay - yeah, I think that can be debated in quite a few jolly manners.
