650E0214
An F-4 from the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB. The 82nd operates the Department of Defense's only full-scale aerial target program, maintaining an inventory of 50 modified QF-4 Phantom II aircraft for this purpose.
This F-4 Stopped at the ANG 122nd Fighter Wing which operates at Fort Wayne International Airport (Baer Field) FWA.
From Fencecheck.com: www.fencecheck.com The_Final_Mission
While on test duties, QF-4 drones are rarely seen away from their Tyndall and Holloman bases. But the people who fly and maintain the Phantoms are extremely proud of their aircraft, the last operational US tactical fighter from the Vietnam era.
In 2004, 82 ATRS personnel sought to add the QF-4 to the USAF’s Heritage Flight program, to fill a gap in historical coverage between World War Two and Korean War warbirds and modern fighters. Six QF-4Es were repainted in camouflage schemes from the F-4’s operational service, four at Tyndall and two at Holloman. Following USAF approval, they took part in Heritage Flight formations at a few airshows on each coast in 2005. In 2006, the QF-4s received Heritage Flight funding from Air Combat Command – the 2005 flights had been funded from the 53 WEG operating budget! – allowing the QF-4s to appear at approximately 20 shows. As well, a simple QF-4 solo display routine was introduced.
Except for their camouflage, the Heritage Flight QF-4Es are standard “primary flier” drones and are used for normal 82 ATRS operations when not at airshows. As the first six aircraft began to run out of flight hours in 2007, a new batch was painted. These aircraft all wear the same Southeast Asia scheme to simplify maintenance.
While the Heritage Flight QF-4s salute those who served in the 1960s and ‘70s, they are also a reminder why full-scale targets are important. Early in its USAF career, the F-4 was hobbled in air-to-air combat when its AIM-4 Falcon and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles failed to work properly in real engagements over North Vietnam. Today, the QF-4’s final duty is to ensure such failures never happen again.
650E0214
An F-4 from the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB. The 82nd operates the Department of Defense's only full-scale aerial target program, maintaining an inventory of 50 modified QF-4 Phantom II aircraft for this purpose.
This F-4 Stopped at the ANG 122nd Fighter Wing which operates at Fort Wayne International Airport (Baer Field) FWA.
From Fencecheck.com: www.fencecheck.com The_Final_Mission
While on test duties, QF-4 drones are rarely seen away from their Tyndall and Holloman bases. But the people who fly and maintain the Phantoms are extremely proud of their aircraft, the last operational US tactical fighter from the Vietnam era.
In 2004, 82 ATRS personnel sought to add the QF-4 to the USAF’s Heritage Flight program, to fill a gap in historical coverage between World War Two and Korean War warbirds and modern fighters. Six QF-4Es were repainted in camouflage schemes from the F-4’s operational service, four at Tyndall and two at Holloman. Following USAF approval, they took part in Heritage Flight formations at a few airshows on each coast in 2005. In 2006, the QF-4s received Heritage Flight funding from Air Combat Command – the 2005 flights had been funded from the 53 WEG operating budget! – allowing the QF-4s to appear at approximately 20 shows. As well, a simple QF-4 solo display routine was introduced.
Except for their camouflage, the Heritage Flight QF-4Es are standard “primary flier” drones and are used for normal 82 ATRS operations when not at airshows. As the first six aircraft began to run out of flight hours in 2007, a new batch was painted. These aircraft all wear the same Southeast Asia scheme to simplify maintenance.
While the Heritage Flight QF-4s salute those who served in the 1960s and ‘70s, they are also a reminder why full-scale targets are important. Early in its USAF career, the F-4 was hobbled in air-to-air combat when its AIM-4 Falcon and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles failed to work properly in real engagements over North Vietnam. Today, the QF-4’s final duty is to ensure such failures never happen again.