F-16 Flies Pilot-Free (With Video)

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Boeing successfully flew an F-16 without a pilot for the first time, with the U.S. Air Force intending to use it as an advanced target drone (QF-16) for weapons testing and aerial training.
The modified F-16s provide a highly capable and realistic aerial target, able to perform maneuvers up to 9 Gs, reach Mach 1.47, and fly at 40,000 feet, accurately replicating modern combat aircraft.
Six F-16s have been converted into QF-16s, with 120 more planned, and each drone will be remotely operated by two ground-based pilots.

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Boeing flew an F-16 without a pilot for the first time last week, the company said on Tuesday. The Air Force plans to use the modified aircraft as a target drone for weapons testing and other aerial training. So far, six of the retired airplanes have been modified into the Full Scale Aerial Target, or QF-16, mode, and another 120 from the fleet are expected to follow. “Now we have a 9G-capable, highly sustainable aerial target,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Inman, commander of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. The aircraft provides “a replication of current, real-world situations and aircraft platforms,” Inman said.

The initial test flights took place at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. The aircraft flew maneuvers up to 40,000 feet, at speeds up to Mach 1.47, and pulled up to 7 Gs. The modified airplanes now will be moved to New Mexico for live-fire testing. Two ground-based pilots will operate each aircraft.