Unmanned X-47B Launches from a Carrier
For the first time in history, a combat aircraft with no pilot onboard took off from an aircraft carrier at sea
![20130514012057x47b-catlaunch.png](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/DQeuy_8E8bLdtWSFVMBvxZj1Vco=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/ff/3a/ff3a6f19-0094-47b1-8c49-f90768a9f543/x47b-catlaunch.jpg)
This morning, for the first time in history, a combat aircraft (correction: a research aircraft that will lead to a combat aircraft) with no pilot onboard took off from an aircraft carrier at sea.
The X-47B demonstrator launched from the USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Virginia at 11:18 a.m., and flew to Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.
“Today we saw a small, but significant pixel in the future picture of our Navy,” said Vice Adm. David Buss, commander of the Naval Air Forces, in a released statement.
Next up on the list of milestones — flying approaches and landings on a pitching flight deck.
Update: On May 17 the X-47B did its first touch-and-go landing on a carrier.