Breaking news
Boeing QF-16 Aerial Target Completes 1st Pilotless Flight..
| a | |||
| |
|||
World
Air Force News - USA - US Air Force |
|||
| Boeing QF-16 Aerial Target Completes 1st Pilotless Flight. | |||
Boeing
and the U.S. Air Force have completed the first unmanned QF-16 Full Scale
Aerial Target flight, demonstrating the next generation of combat training
and testing.The QF-16 is intended to be used as target practice to give
a chance to pilots to fire some live AAM (Air to Air Missile). QF-16 drones
are replacing the older QF-4 (based on F-4 phantom) drones which are to
be retired in 2015. |
|||
 QF-16 modified by Boeing into a drone |
|||
| Two U.S. Air Force test pilots in a ground control station remotely flew the QF-16, which is a retired F-16 jet modified to be an aerial target. The QF-16 mission profile included auto takeoff, a series of simulated maneuvers, supersonic flight, and an auto land, all without a pilot in the cockpit. “It was a little different to see an F-16 take off without anyone in it, but it was a great flight all the way around,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Inman, Commander, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. “Now we have a mission capable, highly sustainable full scale aerial target to take us into the future.” The milestone flight initiates more operational evaluations, including a live fire test at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The Navy, Army and Air Force will ultimately use QF-16s for weapons testing and other training. Boeing has modified six F-16s into the QF-16 configuration. Low-rate initial production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter, with first production deliveries in 2015. The QF-16 is intended to be used as target practice to give a chance to pilots to fire some live AAM (Air to Air Missile). QF-16 drones are replacing the older QF-4 (based on F-4 phantom) drones which are to be retired in 2015. |
|||