First pilotless F-16 takes off...

[Garfield]

[video=youtube_share;rJk4fBcaOYA]http://youtu.be/rJk4fBcaOYA

 

Almost as cool as the pilotless F-16 itself is the fact that one of the chase planes is an F-4.

[heirflick]

pat what was the purpose of the excersise?... just wondered, as drones are used at a much cheaper alternative to recce aircraft.

[Broithe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24231077

[Garfield]

pat what was the purpose of the excersise?... just wondered, as drones are used at a much cheaper alternative to recce aircraft.

 

Target practice. Nothing new about retired aircraft being converted but I believe this is the first F-16 to receive the treatment.

[WRENNEIRE]

However, a spokesman for the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots warned of the temptation to use them in warfare.

 

My application to join was returned.........

[Shinkansen]

I dunno, sounds all a bit 'Sky-net' to me! If the machines ever do rise up against us, we stand a better chance if they're just toasters and hoovers. However if they're F16's and other such military hardware well....maybe not. Just saying!

Is it actually flying autonomously or just by remote control? I agree with you about the F4. One of my all time favourite jets, good to know there's a few still flying and they're not all mothballed

[Garfield]

I dunno, sounds all a bit 'Sky-net' to me! Is it actually flying autonomously or just by remote control?

 

Remotely controlled by a pilot in a ground station

 

There's still a lot of Phantoms flying... they're still in service with the Hellenic Air Force and the Luftwaffe only retired theirs back in June.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Garfield