The Unmanned Little Bird is a Boeing project that combines the capabilities of manned or unmanned flight aboard a proven MD 530F manned helicopter. The unique proof-of-concept demonstrator, developed and flown less than a year after program go-ahead, has been flying since Sept. 8, 2004 and made its first autonomous takeoff and landing Oct. 16. 2004. Since testing began, the Unmanned Little Bird has flown more than 40 hours as a fully operational unmanned air vehicle (UAV). A human safety pilot on board during flights monitors the aircraft's performance but does not actively fly the aircraft. In autonomous flight, the aircraft is programmed to fly a mission and can go from takeoff to landing without being controlled remotely.