Electric Jet, Unplugged

摘要

A number of the world's first fly-by-wire jet fighters are about to become fly-by-remote target drones. Boeing is converting up to 126 retired F-16s to QF-16s that will teach U.S. Air Force pilots how to contend with the weaponry and tactics of fourth-generation air superiority fighters. Depending on the mission, the QF-16s will be flown with a pilot on board or controlled by an operator on the ground. The first six were delivered to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last November. The conversion includes removing the 20-mm multi-barrel gun from the single-seat F-16A and-C versions and installing sensors, automatic flight controls, and defensive measures for both piloted and unpiloted flight. The Air Force has been using a converted Vietnam-era warhorse, the F-4 Phantom Ⅱ, but the QF-4 inventory is dwindling, prompting the search for a replacement.