Sikorsky Achieves First Black Hawk Helicopter Autonomous Formation Flight

http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=25e76b3a-c2a2-45c0-8c6e-9f2f462b6e92&Dynamic=1

The first flight of the Sikorsky Autonomous Formation Flying (AFF) system was carried out on June 4 by Sikorsky Innovations, the company announced Tuesday at the Farnborough International Air Show.

The demonstration used the Sikorsky AFF system implemented on the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate's (AFDD) JUH-60A RASCAL(TM) aircraft, flying in formation with an unmodified EH-60L aircraft. The AFF Project is aimed to reduce a helicopter pilot's workload by automating routine formation flight. The AFF system will allow a pilot to designate a lead aircraft and engage the system to maintain flight at a specified relative position