# Why would this UAV have a recessed view pane? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404 "2013-05-15T14:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/1 "2013-05-15T14:29:41Z")
In this photo of an X-47B UAV being launched from a carrier, the windshield is recessed. Wouldn’t this be inefficient aerodynamically right off the bat? [http://news.yahoo.com/navy-launches-unmanned-aircraft-carrier-190745358.html](http://news.yahoo.com/navy-launches-unmanned-aircraft-carrier-190745358.html) I know that ballistic and ABM missiles expose their IR and other optical units post-boost phase, but the speeds here are obviously smaller. \*I just realized that the word “drone” has replaced UAV in the public lexicon, if “UAV” ever was there. It’s a shame, because I’d think “drone” would be better than the coming unmanned attack aircraft ( although this one apparently is on its way, unless that’s PR/disinformation. Actually, I think it would be an interesting etymological project. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/2 "2013-05-15T14:34:31Z")
What windshield? If you’re talking about the trangularish opening above the nose, that’s the air intake for the engine. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/3 "2013-05-15T14:42:36Z")
Yeah, intake. I also hasten to add that that thing is pretty badass in a scary, uncomfortable way. I’m envisioning hordes of these things being unleashed on all manner of unsuspecting people while we continue to be ever more detached emotionally from engaging in warfare. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/4 "2013-05-15T14:48:48Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > In this photo of an X-47B UAV being launched from a carrier, the windshield is recessed. Wouldn’t this be inefficient aerodynamically right off the bat? I’m pretty sure that’s not a windshield. It’s the engine intake. It looks like a windshield because of perspective: The curve that looks like the surface is actually the curvature of the far edge of the inlet, and the “reflection glint” is the shadow transition from the sun-illuminated inner surface and the shaded inner surface (shaded by that same far edge of the inlet). [This image](http://files.air-attack.com/MIL/_EXP/x47/x47render_20100217.jpg) shows this from a better angle. Looking at it, I wonder if there may be some type of airflow-permeable radar absorber/deflector across the inlet. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/5 "2013-05-15T15:49:05Z")
Verdict: I’m a jerk. I really should have a longer think-to-post period longer than two seconds. No need for forward-facing window. :smack: That’s the “U” part. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/6 "2013-05-15T16:08:09Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Verdict: I’m a jerk. I really should have a longer think-to-post period longer than two seconds. > > No need for forward-facing window. :smack: That’s the “U” part. It’s so the squirrels that power the onboard computer have a nice view. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/7 "2013-05-16T01:37:17Z")
Actually, looking at that thing, where _are_ its recon/optical pods? I know it’s testing flight takeoff and landing and is not operational for missions, but no operator at all is about looking through something? Barring that, GPS, or what? I can’t believe landing on a choppy flight deck can be done with GPS and radar/beacons but the DOD is smart when it wants to be. ETA: Other thread on the bird merge ahead… ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-this-uav-have-a-recessed-view-pane/658404/8 "2013-05-16T02:26:52Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > … [snippage]… > Looking at it, I wonder if there may be some type of airflow-permeable radar absorber/deflector across the inlet. There often is some sort of screen over the engine air inlet on stealth aircraft. Those spinning turbine blades in a jet engine can reflect radar.