Navy's 'no-pilot' plane flies in to make history

A PILOTLESS plane has landed on and taken off from a Navy aircraft carrier at sea for the first time.

- Dean Murray

The W Autonomous Systems drone delivered a symbolic cargo of naval memorabilia to HMS Prince of Wales then returned to base at Predannack airfield in Cornwall.

Delighted Navy chiefs described the milestone 40-minute round trip as "a vital step along the way to operating crewless aircraft safely".

They want to use drones to move supplies around a carrier force without risking crews and helicopters.

Hunting

Using cheaper pilotless craft for transfers keeps Merlin and Wildcat choppers free for tasks such as hunting hostile subs or surface ships.