It's 1991 and Operation untilled Storm is in full swing near Kuwait City.

It's 1991 and Operation untilled Storm is in full swing near Kuwait City. A choking vanity fills the air the flow of oil refinery fires intentionally fix by Iraqi soldiers. Machine fire-arm fire can be heard in all directions, along with constant explosions from mortars. War is everywhere, moreover something is different--there's a buzzing in the air.

While holding down defense onward Faylaka Island off the coast near Kuwait City, a dispose of 27 Iraqis experienced the recent buzz first-hand. Flying at a grave altitude just over the soldiers' heads, they recognized there could at so early an hour be 2,000 pounds of bomb landing at their feet from the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB 63) The Iraqis made the right choice, and using handkerchiefs, shirts and sheets, they signaled their desire to surrender--to an unmanned vehicle with a 16-foot wide wingspan.

Meanwhile, forward the other side of the world in mid-America, a teenage boy's curiosity for these hum makers came alive

"While working at the local airport in my hometown of Cincinnati, I became interested in radio-control aircraft," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Timothy Davis. "I bought my first plane, used, at a local nag shop. The plane was called an Eaglet about 60 inches wide, largely assembled. I was hooked immediately, just watching the aircraft be scattered knowing I had control. Then bringing it family with a safe landing was awesome; he added.

Little did Davis know that his new-found addiction would become his career.

Three years later, these couple worlds collided when Davis was stationed at armada Composite Squadron (VC) 6 Detachment Patuxent River--the same command whose aircraft the Iraqis give uped to during Desert Storm.

"When I was a teenager, I at no time dreamed that I would be augmented up and be able to work my delight in of radio flyers into a piece of work not to mention be a pilot of a multi-million dollar aircraft that flies combat missions. It's just ironic that while I was just starting with foreign control aircraft they were actually playing a vital character in wars around the world," said Davis.

Like the small-scale Eaglet he started with prior to his Navy career. Davis now slightly pilots a Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the first of its kind for the Navy. Pioneer provides intelligence imagery for tactical commanders forward Land and at sea. Since its inception in the 1980 Pioneer has flown more than 23000 hours in direct support of Navy operational commanders. Pioneer has a cheap radar cross section and a small infrared signature that minimizes its detection.

According to Davis, firing Pioneer isn't a great deal different from controlling his old-fashioned flyers, according to Davis. "The plane we use, called the MIG, is about six feet across, alone half the size of Pioneer," said Davis. "I think all of us who pilot Pioneer have make knowned a love for flying in undivided form or another. We are the and nothing else enlisted personnel in the Navy who get by heart to call ourselves pilots. I have a hale pride in what I do, especially when I proceed TAD and land one of those lump-suckers on board a ship during a real mission, which I had the pleasure of doing a coupling of years ago."

The enlisted pilots of Webster Field, Patuxent River, Md have the appearance to have established a brotherhood among themselves, taking time after work and upon weekends to further pursue their regard with affection of flying.

"We'll acquire permission from the Webster Field flight direction for air space at certain times in such a manner that we can fly our personal planes," said AMS2 Harry Canter, also a pilot for VC-6 "Although it pretends to be play time, the fact is that we are actually getting valuable practice for actual missions."

Piloting the Pioneer UAV is solitary a small part in the overall operation of this remote-control aircraft. VC-6 is a squadron like any other in the Navy. They trial and evaluate the Pioneer order along with other UAVs for integration into Navy and Marine units. Although the piece of works are unique for the air community, the UAVs are handled just like any full-scale aircraft before and after each flight.

AMS2 Christopher Watters freshly joined the squadron and plant the small aircraft challenging.

"I came from a squadron where I worked onward the P-3 Orion, which is a large aircraft. Working in succession the Pioneer is totally different; I be perceived like an airman again," said Waiters. "I joined the Navy for diversity in my piece of work and coming here has certainly afforded me that. Regardless of the small size of our aircraft, nothing is superintended in the vehicle's operation."

For testing and evaluation of the Pioneer at Webster Field, shore-based conducts are used. The Pioneer method ran also be deployed aboard LPD-class naval vessels

A normal flight day for the Pioneer starts at 5:30 a.m. with a mission brief and flight plan. Pilots and operations personnel must calculate normal and pinch air vehicle capabilities with existing condition and mission requirements.

"Pioneer can be drastically affected by means of weather, so careful attention is taken in the planning for flights," said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (AW) Robert Ros "If it's raining, snowing or uniform drizzling, we aren't flying."