QF-4s

QF-4s await their fate as target drones on the Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., flight line. The QF-4s are used a target drones by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Holloman and at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. They are remotely flown during the air-to-air weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Archer. Pilots gain valuable air combat training and experience targeting and firing missiles at the drone aircraft. The QF-4 will eventually be replaced by the QF-16, currently undergoing developmental testing at Tyndall. The 53rd WEG is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Courtesy photo/Gary Wetzel)

Unmanned QF-4 crashes at Tyndall

Published July 17, 2013
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- An unmanned Air Force QF-4 full-scale aerial target drone, assigned here to the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, crashed on the drone runway during take-off at 8:25 a.m. today. No personnel were injured during the incident.

Base and local police and safety officials have closed Highway 98 and are anticipating that it will remain closed for up to 24 hours. This closure is being done strictly as a precautionary measure due to fires resulting from the crash and a small self-destruct charge carried on board the drone. The status of this device is unknown however, it is powered by a short-life battery which will be fully depleted in 24 hours.

The charge is used to destroy the drone if it leaves its pre-approved flight plan. Motorists traveling from Panama City to Mexico Beach, should use Hwy. 22 east to Hwy. 71 south, and from Mexico Beach to Panama City Hwy. 71 north to Hwy. 22 west.

More details will be released as they become available.