The Pilotless Air Force? a Look at Replacing Human Operators with Advanced Technology : 9781249829362 : 17 Oct 2012 : Today, there are several concepts that are threatening Billy Mitchell's vision of airmen. New technology and operational concepts are threatening the existence of the human aircraft operator. Looming on the horizon are unmanned aerial vehicles, spaced based weapons, and information architectures. This research effort is limited in scope. It focuses specifically on the UAV issue and explores the possibility that airmen will be replaced by unmanned vehicles in the next twenty years. On the one hand, UAVs offer distinct advantages over manned aircraft. UAVs will save lives and money. UAVs are not constrained by the physiological limits of the human operator. In addition, they eliminate tough political situations that arise when airmen are shot down over unfriendly territory. On the other hand, even with advanced unmanned technology, airmen still provide the Air Force with