http://theaviationist.com/2013/09/23/qf-16-unmanned-flight/#.UkHfmIbFXmI
[Photo] First pilotless F-16 flies first remotely controlled mission at Tyndall Air Force Base Sep 23 2013 - 3 Comments<http://theaviationist.com/2013/09/23/qf-16-unmanned-flight/#comments> The first unmanned QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target<http://theaviationist.com/2013/07/25/f-16-aerial-target-qf-4/> flew on Sept. 19 at Tyndall Air Force base in Florida, demonstrating the next generation of combat training and testing. The aircraft has joined the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/82d_Aerial_Targets_Squadron> to serve as an aerial target for testing against potential adversaries, radars, surface and air-to-air missiles. *Image credit: Boeing* *-------------------------------------------------* Newest drones on the rise at Tyndall AFB // VIDEO [image: New QF-16 drone]<http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/newest-drones-on-the-rise-at-tyndall-afb-video-1.207427?tc=cr> A QF-16 takes off on its first unmanned flight at Tyndall Air Force Base last week. The military aims to have the QF-16 provide a more accurate representation of real world threats for testing and training. *Air Force Staff Sgt. Javier Cruz / Special to The News Herald* By RANDAL YAKEY / The News Herald <http://www.newsherald.com/authors?author=RANDAL%20YAKEY%20/%20The%20News%20Herald> Published: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 19:01 PM. ** TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE — The transition from the older, converted F-4 Phantom drones to the newer F-16 supersonic jet fighter drones has begun, Tyndall officials announced Monday. The QF-16, formerly F-16s, is a “reusable, full-scale aerial target drone” that will replace the QF-4 currently being used as practice targets for the F-22 Raptors, according to the Air Force. The QF-16 is 49 feet long, weighs 19,890 lbs., can reach speeds of 1,500 mph and has a wingspan of about 33 feet. Tyndall announced its first launch of the QF-16 was completed Thursday, but did not report how the launch happened until Monday. According to Tyndall Public Affairs, a pilot performed the preflight checks before climbing out to the QF-16, locking the canopy from the outside. *— VIDEO: Watch the drone's first flight » <http://bcove.me/jwwtliu0>* http://video.boeing.com/services/player/bcpid1173939806001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAukPAlqE~,oAVq1qtdRjwBrIkHYj2MSytJiEK9s5fy&bctid=2684464741001 Control was then turned over to Thomas Mudge, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron (ATRS) pilot controller, who launched the jet for its one-hour mission and conducted a series of maneuvers before returning to base. “The flight itself went very well,” Mudge said in a released statement. The QF-16 can be flown either by a pilot or via remote control, the Air Force wrote. The Air Force added that eventually a bomb would be placed aboard the plane so it could be destroyed if needed. Late Monday, Air Force Col. Ryan Inman, 82nd ATRS commander, addressed why it was time to replace the QF-4 with the QF-16. “Currently, the majority of aircraft parts for the QF-4 are no longer being manufactured,” Inman said. “The QF-16 provides a complete supply chain that is still active and will maintain replacement part availability for our entire aerial target fleet.” In all, up to 126 retired F-16s could be converted to drones, according to the Air Force. They will be equipped to fly and land multiple times in manned and unmanned configurations before their final missions against live weapons on a controlled range, according to the Pentagon. Tyndall has had two incidents this year where QF-4s either had to be ditched or crashed at the runway. On July 11, a QF-4 drone had to be destroyed, causing it to plunge into the Gulf of Mexico near St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office said. Tyndall officials initially said the drone went “haywire” but later said they were forced to destroy the drone when it became apparent they could not bring the plane in for a safe landing. A week later, another QF-4 drone crashed at the foot of a Tyndall runway. The incident prompted Air Force officials to close U.S. 98 forcing a lengthy delay for traffic traveling between Parker and Mexico Beach. http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/newest-drones-on-the-rise-at-tyndall-afb-video-1.207427?page=1
