Gallery: Drones May Be Cool, But the Air Force Isn't Done With Humans

  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Airplane Aircraft Human Person Jet Warplane and Bomber
    Lockheed Martin
    01

    Raytheon-T-100-2.jpg

    Raytheon's T-100 is competing to be the Air Force's next trainer jet.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Warplane and Bomber
    Lockheed Martin
    02

    Raytheon-T-100-3.jpg

    Drones may be the future of aviation, but human pilots aren't going anywhere just yet.
  • Image may contain Human Person Hangar Building Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Airplane Warplane and Bomber
    US Air Force
    03

    T-38-Talon-3.jpg

    Trainer jets are a bit like driver’s ed cars. Their two seats each offer a full set of controls, so the experienced Top Gun can mold noob pilots into air jocks without risking their lives.
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    Danny Webb/US Air Force
    04

    T-38-Talon-1.jpg

    But the Air Force's T-38 trainer has been glfying for 50 years, and new generation of pilots need an update.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Warplane Bomber and Jet
    Lockheed Martin
    05

    Lockheed-T-50A.jpg

    Lockheed Martin partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to upgrade the existing T-50A trainer, which first flew in 2003.
  • TX Dry RunMCF160059 Series
    Eric Shindelbower/Boeing
    06

    Boeing-T-X-reveal-high-res.jpg

    And Boeing unveiled the T-X last month.
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    BOB FERGUSON/Boeing
    07

    Boeing-T-X-PUBLIC-rollout1.jpg

    It's a clean sheet design—a clear sign the defense company thinks there's a real future for human pilots.
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