"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/24/2013 at 10:00 • Filed to: Planelopnik
3
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"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/24/2013 at 10:00 • Filed to: Planelopnik | 3
| 14 |
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Sept. 23, 2013 – 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.
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.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
“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. ( via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , still photo via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , in case embed doesn't work.
Kugelblitz
> ttyymmnn
09/24/2013 at 10:06 |
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"Aerial Targets Squadron" hunh. That would be anyone not flying a fighter.
McMike
> ttyymmnn
09/24/2013 at 10:31 |
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Chappy come in, over.
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McMike
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 10:31 |
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Chappy, this is Doug. Come in.
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McMike
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 10:31 |
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Chappy, this is Doug. I repeat Doug.. Come in over.
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McMike
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 10:35 |
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McMike
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 10:35 |
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William Byrd
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 10:40 |
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Win
rad_mike
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 11:26 |
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Right in the childhood.
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McMike
> William Byrd
09/24/2013 at 11:55 |
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Will this embed?
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William Byrd
> McMike
09/24/2013 at 12:56 |
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It certainly will. Love it.
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McMike
> William Byrd
09/24/2013 at 13:00 |
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Thankfully, Gizmodo just posted their story to the front page. Hooray, I get to use it!
WarShrike
> ttyymmnn
09/24/2013 at 16:51 |
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Wonder what G-load it could pull at full tilt?
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ttyymmnn
> WarShrike
09/24/2013 at 16:56 |
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According to The Aviationist blog: "The aircraft was remotely controlled from a Ground Control Station at Tyndall by two F-16 pilots (“QF-16 plane controllers”) with the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron who flew the plane up to 40,000 feet at supersonic speed (Mach 1.47) engaging maneuvers like a barrel roll and pulling up to 7Gs."
I imagine it could pull whatever the airframe is rated to, since you're not worried about the pilot any more.
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WarShrike
> ttyymmnn
09/24/2013 at 18:05 |
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Yeah, that's what I'd be interested in for certain.