Pilot-Less Plane Hawked to Pentagon

Monday, 09 May 2011 | by Pat's Picks

It’s kind of like shampoo and conditioner in one. The LA Times says a new spy plane that can switch from a manned plane to an unmanned drone with a few modifications is set to be unveiled today. The company behind the aircraft, which is called the Firebird, hopes the Pentagon will be interested in the money-saving aircraft: “If the military has a plane that can do both missions, it may save money on maintenance personnel and spare parts.” It’s unclear how much the Firebird will cost but similar models go for around $100 million. Not only can the plane wing it without a pilot, it can “listen in on phone conversations, use high-powered radar and shoot live video footage as it flies at 30,000 feet above the Earth.”