Boeing's QF-16 Makes its First Unmanned Flight

As a pilotless F-16 roared into the sky last week at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., members of Boeing's QF-16 team and the U.S. Air Force celebrated.

[@Tinytacohead]

The ultimate RC jet.. complete with weapons!

[@SARIrX]

It was a great day. Watching QF-004 take to the air was awesome. It did just what Boeing said it would do. This target will be leaps and bounds over our QF-4 aircraft. I was glad to be a part of history. Well done Boeing.

[@Snowcat89onXbox360]

So sad to see such a magnificent plane used for target practice... :(

[@markdoldon8852]

you'd rather it sits in the desert, never to fly again?

[@2018paulrobbinx]

It is a sad day when F-16's are used to be flying targets for new pilots. I get it new Pilots like me need help but F-16's are awesome. Still great engineering by Boeing :)

[@poodumrover1]

I use Combat flight simulator and it makes perfect sense to unretire these and take them into battle once again without risking pilots

[@AlfredoArbe]

avaliable at Hobby King soon! ;)

[@myhoezgit2wrk]

Target??? WTF!! why not use these as fighter planes instead of putting human lives at risk?

[@joeyates6057]

You convinced me boeing, so gonna make a 777x my next buy

[@ilovesudan]

Boeing has hit the jackpot. Build expensive planes that will be shot down and reordered all year round lol.

[@roymckenzie6241]

,,, With these ,,,it'll make them better able to take chances they might not normally take to get their objective accomplished ,,, i luv it ,,,

[@kennyseow5594]

the flight of QF16 was cancel on our founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew's funeral due 2 heavy downpour :)

[@maverickdallas100]

The PERFECT drone!!!

[@WarbirdPhoenix]

Better focus on being an engineer kids.

[@rjflodee]

If it can be operated remotely, does that mean it can be hijacked remotely? I mean there are always people out there who are better in technologies, right?

[@Airwolf8157]

Keep up the great work Boeing!!!!!!!!!!!

[@richieh7901]

I think they should use these in combat just inaugurate the weapons system like the predator drone

[@phicao12]

well pilots we can't have drones flying are planes we need to stop that we need humans flying in there not micro chips!!!

[@denariuswright8284]

so easy to observe our military technology im sure adversaries have no problem observing our capabilities this is not ok.

[@raymondkummerfeld9946]

It appears that Boeing is under contract to develop the QF-16 for the Air Force. The F-16 is a amazing aircraft. I was on that program for two years and Lockheed is still building them!

[@remondagamble5002]

T TV shards caresser Yea look

[@saypaw3334]

+Remonda Gamble tfjnvofhkmvx

[@ryanmillington8740]

So basically it's a giant RC plane. Sweet

[@iforce2d]

This is what they should be doing instead of sinking so much money into the X47 project.

[@nickm1488]

+iforce2d then what does metalstrom go on?

[@andreperez7606]

zo de que

[@andreperez7606]

l

[@JasonBelgarde]

This is only a logical step......Excellent usage!!!!!

[@covepac]

BOEING QF -16 MAKES ITS FIRST UN MANNED FLIGHT CASTEL

[@zachmyers1961]

The future pilots have already been born...

[@mrmayday9675]

life-size F-16 RC plane !

[@JWQweqOPDH]

Be a remote pilot, or pilot a larger plane, but I wouldn't be set on being a fighter pilot if I were you.

[@2997nathan]

No computer should ever replace a pilot. Even if it is a remote control, what if a terrorist hacked or got into the HQ and took control of the aircraft. Thats a bad idea.

[@TIMWILLIAMS29621]

It could be more deadly now with no pilot to pass out.

[@vitamin-dyou7914]

Q- since it is unmanned will it fly more aggressive than a manned flight due to the physiological shortcomings of the human body at high speed complex maneuvers ? Fly unmanned can one out fly a newer gen plane if they are a good enough pilot?

[@markdoldon8852]

if the intent is to train the pilots attacking these planes, they will electronically limit capacities to match enemy target pilots. on the other hand if the idea is to test what can be done if the physical and psychological limits of the pilot are removed, it could lead in some interesting directions.

[@DailyLifeNY]

i dont understand why Boeing is using a Lockheed aircraft to do these tests.

[@lapisdust]

DailyLifeNY Originally a General Dynamics airplane, before Lockheed bought them out.

[@fishkluch]

DailyLifeNY The f-16 is also much cheaper than the f-15 or the f-18

[@eleniyimer]

Doug Wallace

[@BrunoGarcia79]

thats almost criminal using that great aircraft as a target

[@TheVuzzer]

There should be extensive fire walls and even with this test version it was fitted with self destruct system so if in the event of something like this would kick in but even at last resort you could send another fighter jet up to intercept it and take it down so risk is minimal. the only thing i could think of is if the system became corrupt, a bird strike or lightning strike i don't think the computer could handle that amount of problems i share your view pilots should not be replaced tho !

[@alphonsendagijimana8661]

great ! high technology

[@thomashakizamungu2494]

Très bon

[@alphasxsignal]

Now use it and keep out guys out of the fight in the air when they don't have to be there. Its just a big RC plane. No big deal. Come on guys this stuff has been around for years.

[@davidosborne6646]

Don't shoot it down! Give it to ME!

[@jackwoods3664]

This is very interesting. I'm currently doing a project on the whole 'unmanned cockpits' debate. Will we see commercial jets without pilots in the future?

[@wetzel1201]

I don't know how to feel about this but wouldn't be expensive to just destroy daily? I want an answer

[@BlackBunik]

That is plausible. Imagine a squadron of drones flying their mission when suddenly they are cut off from HQ by a signal jammer. Those airplanes become useless and either they are programmed to return or they just fall down like apples from a tree. That woudl not happen if pilots were inside obviously. However how many experienced pilots would be saved from certain death in a real mission... There are pros and cons to everything. But human life is priceless.

[@MrKraft-fg7dh]

Wow this is good for kamikaze

¿Can a F-16 neutralize an Electromagnétic Impulse of Boreal of low frecuency longitudinal waves sistem called H.A.A.P?. In all of the cases, congratullations.

[@aeiq1219]

Let's see, Drones that land on aircraft carrier, un-manned F16s. Yes, this is how the future will be fought, maybe Sky net is not that far fetch after all.

[@voltage7772nd]

thats the most expensive target ever..........holy crap

[@Th3Nigma]

Why shoot them down? Why not just scrap them? Do they scavenge parts after they've shot it down?

[@JWQweqOPDH]

These planes are not fully autonomous. Today's pilots are assisted heavily by computers. The only real change here is the location of the pilot.

[@lbermude]

Fancy RC toy with FPV..... I thought the FAA did not allow the flights of drones or RC with FPV in US territory....

[@Avofan]

It's my favorite plane, but it's a sad sight to see that it is a target now. 😔

[@howieemerson3867]

jncjJJHHBNHHJJINHUBTXCUFHGTHGJJGJTGYXXCFSZSTUIJBNLOMKKOBJPKKI

[@dovosjhs]

amazing! love boeing

[@82raptor]

Its just going to be shot down. Some hotshot in a F-22 is going to blow this thing out of the sky one day.

[@khoado8528]

Boeing, can you put thrust vectoring on F/A-18, F-16 and F-15 like F-16 VISTA, F-18 HARV and F-15 ACTIVE?

[@ka_rence]

If it like the x-45 that autounmannedly in F15/16 I will gave u a like

[@logueg]

Virtually every new commercial airliner being built has the ability do makes its entire flight without human input once on the runway so it's a little late for this argument.

[@octagonPerfectionist]

They'll still probably use remote pilots for these things for quite awhile though.

[@mrkody24]

now all they need is a really good hacker and where screwed

[@chokfareez]

how about QB777-200 ER ?

[@lbjlbj1]

Wow, they've just been doing drones for the last 60 years. What's the big deal? Did they think it wouldn't work?

[@RajivChakravarti]

Can someone explain why the cooling system is on full blast in the cockpit?

[@longhoang3096]

Too good

[@withsilentwings]

It's the future. It's very unlikely anyone would hack it remotely and it's near impossible for someone to get close enough to hack physically. It wouldn't be hard to build in a cutoff or have some 3rd party tool verify the signal is legitimate. All the major limitations of high-end fighters have to do with the pilot now--Imagine not needing to weed out pilots that can't take the g-forced, suddenly your airforce has planes without human limits and as many pilots as they will ever need!

[@chess747]

At the end of the day it's just a radio controlled plane ...this would allow more weapons and far better fighting techniques like a kid with a video game...so now try to imagine 400 of these flying at once on there own run by a computer here are your perimeters preprogrammed in now fly it....this is no different to a passenger aircraft with pilots watching the systems are working correctly ..this is no different to your television or cell phone...my guess is cost to mass produce and hacking but as for mass production it would be like cars now most of them are plastic shit made on the cheap but sold at a ridiculous price.

[@jeetendrag10acc2]

QF....hmmm...designation for target practice.... :-( these are f-16s....its painful to think this.

[@seinfeld11123]

sexyest and most nimble aircraft ever made! F-22 only matches it, and not exceed sure its stealthy but that isnt every thing!

[@masso172]

So why not just fight battles this way without risking pilots' lives?

[@richieh7901]

If say that's the end goal

[@David11078]

Amazing!!

[@limyc877]

F16 on DRONE mode.

[@Merlin5by5]

It's not like adding an air force officer adds any brains to this operation.

[@pnq8787]

Seems like a terrible waste not to develop this into a real combat drone!

[@kirkjamestkirk]

Well done !!

[@TonyWoody]

What's that steam looking stuff going off in the cockpit?

[@aaronnuw6728]

Is it for just to test recruits or is it actually for war

[@sajjadabbaspour]

very very interesting , and i hope that i be there someday, i hope this could be used not to kill innocent peopss

[@implementedideas1983]

dude almost 500,000 views but no likes or dislikes?!?!? WHAT?!?!?!?

[@Boekan_Arsheetec]

It would be interesting if this would became a target of F-35 Lightning. More interesting if in close combat mode.

[@jacquesmichelon7575]

ŕafàle

[@LM-ny7om]

Näää... The plane was already flown by computers... Software update and u r done.

[@luisguevara2932]

amazing that is a block 15

[@coldgold49]

for shame america shooting at a target like an F16 is like pissing on rembrant to practice basket weaving. hopefully we wont need too many targets as the UAVs take over.....shame.

[@Beavereaver]

i completely agree.

[@GoMiGman]

I remember reading an article about when they turned some of the retired F-4 Phantoms into QF-4's like this for target practice an many veteran Vietnam air force pilots weren't too happy about it because some of those Phantoms had air-air kills recorded on them and were essentially pieces worthy of preservation in their opinion. Can't remember what the outcome was but it was interesting to see that story. In this case, I don't think they'll have that problem since these are really old F-16 Block 15's and the F-16 has been one of the most numerously produced fighter in the US. I think so far there has been 5,500 of them built world-wide.

[@coldgold49]

i agree but but but its a 16. the f4 was pretty too. must be pretty simple these days to just tap into the fly by wire computers and away you go.

[@SBCBears]

I gotta ask, how is ANYTHING "like pissing on a rembrant to practice basket weaving"?

[@GoMiGman]

mike daytona Last time I saw a documentary on them prepping a QF-16, they said the total cost of making it unmanned was roughly $1miiiilllllliiionnnn dollars. A lot of loot to shoot down.

[@hotfightinghistory9224]

So were using them as target practice now? Cryin shame. At least let us play some Falcon 4.0 with them...

[@geopearlst]

So what does the QF stand for?

[@covepac]

YES UNA HERMOSURA DE AVIONES BOEING

[@martinthoremorstad7445]

Saab racing

[@RR-wn8it]

imagine the pilot sit on a simulator with oculus rift, would be AWESOME!!!

[@markdoldon8852]

For a real F16 pilot, it would be like the proverbial kissing your sister.

[@douglasjackson295]

it's called an aloran roll

[@sophiecobarrubia8181]

awesome!

[@dewasatya1515]

Awesome plane

[@amanindia11]

grt

[@Dj-re2xr]

So cool

[@OYSTERPERPETUALS]

crazy.

[@zxcq]

I hope it won't be used against civilians

[@kchiang4]

Great.... now someone can hack it....

[@patrickflips7391]

hi

[@Th3Nigma]

Idiots think this drone is spying on them, it's for target practice.

[@岡本脩吾-s7q]

Can it dog-fight ?

[@luchador5341]

Should this be legal?

[@MenTalH4cKzGaming]

Same here haha

[@reidlods2403]

Cuz why not.

[@ramberto7785]

Awesome!

[@proconsulaugustus]

Not gonna actually shoot it down

[@nobemuna7908]

কদজ

[@alexanevarez1675]

r

[@LGiampouras]

Awesome

[@MikaAlifAdzani]

wow

[@aaktug801]

If you dont need it please give me one

[@KriVaDesign]

Says who?