波音将一架退役F16改造为无人机

 

It said that one of the Lockheed Martin F-16 made a first flight with an empty cockpit last week.

 

Two US Air Force pilots controlled the plane from the ground as it flew from a Florida base to the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Boeing suggested that the innovation could ultimately be used to help train pilots, providing an adversary³ they could practise firing on.

 

The jet - which had previously⁴ sat mothballed at an Arizona site for 15 years - flew at an altitude of 40,000ft (12.2km) and a speed of Mach 1.47 (1,119mph/1,800km/h).

 

It carried out a series of manoeuvres including a barrel roll and a "split S" - a move in which the aircraft turns upside down before making a half loop so that it flies the right-way-up in the opposite direction. This can be used in combat to evade⁵ missile lock-ons.

 

Boeing said the unmanned F16 was followed by two chase planes to ensure it stayed in sight, and also contained equipment that would have allowed it to self-destruct if necessary.

 

The firm added that the flight attained⁶ 7Gs of acceleration⁷ but was capable of carrying out manoeuvres at 9Gs - something that might cause physical problems for a pilot. 

 

"It flew great, everything worked great, [it] made a beautiful landing - probably one of the best landings I've ever seen," said Paul Cejas, the project's chief engineer.

 

Lt Col Ryan Inman, Commander of the US Air Force's 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, also had praise for how the test had gone.

 

"It was a little different to see it without anyone in it, but it was a great flight all the way around," he said.

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