June 9,
2008:
U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predators and
MQ-9 Reapers UAVs each have bomb or missile images stenciled on their fuselage,
each symbol representing one missile fired in combat. This adornment is mainly
for the maintenance crews, as the crew (pilot and sensor operator) are all back
in the United States. The crew operates the UAVs remotely via a satellite link,
but only the maintainers lay hands on the aircraft regularly.
