at first glance, it looks like any other f 16 fighter jet   except for one difference boeing's new qf 16 is a actually a retired us air force jet converted into a drone the pilotless plane can be controlled from the ground, and will used for target practice by 'top gun' pilots scroll down for video  where's the pilot? boeing has revealed video footage of an f 16 jet converted into a drone 126 of the converted planes will be used by the us air force as flying targets to train top gun pilots length: 49 ft, 5 in span: 32 ft, 8 in takeoff weight: 37,500 lbs  max speed: 1,500 mph  max altitude: 50,000 ft plus  range: 2,425 mi  engine: one 27,000 lb thrust pratt & whitney f100  the first production boeing qf 16 optionally manned target drone has been delivered to the us air force (usaf), air bosses have revealed aircraft qf 007 arrived at tyndall air force base (afb) in florida on 11 march, ahead of being pressed into service by the 82nd aerial targets squadron (ats) boeing has delivered six pre production qf 16s, and in all, the usaf expects to receive 126 qf 16s the unmanned mcdonnell douglas f 4 phantom ii currently used is no longer truly representative of the air to air threats usaf pilots are likely to encounter on future operations the qf 16 will be able to represent threats in the class of the mig 29 'fulcrum' and sukhoi su 27 'flanker', bosses say in tests, two us air force test pilots in a ground control station at tydall remotely flew the qf 16, which is a retired f 16 jet modified to be an aerial target while in the air, the qf 16 mission included a series of simulated maneuvers, reaching supersonic speeds, returning to base and landing, all without a pilot in the cockpit 'it was a little different to see it without anyone in it, but it was a great flight all the way around,' said us air force lt col ryan inman, commander, 82nd aerial targets squadron 'it's a replication of current, real world situations and aircraft platforms they can shoot as a target now we have a 9g capable, highly sustainable aerial target' for more than 40 years, the f 16 fighting falcon has proven itself as the world's most capable 4 generation multi role fighter, serving as the workhorse of the fighter fleet for 28 customers around the world the drones have been adapted from f 16 jets that have been retired by the air force the qf 16 is a retired f 16 (pictured) turned in a remote controlled drone the us air force has ordered 126 craft to be used as 'target drones' for more than 40 years, the f 16 fighting falcon has proven itself as the world's most capable 4 generation multi role fighter, serving as the workhorse of the fighter fleet for 28 customers around the world the f 16's most innovative design feature is its 'fly by wire' control system, the first on any aircraft the f 16 is designed to maneuver at up to nine g's this allows it to turn tighter than other fighters, a big advantage in a dogfight but at such high g loadings, the pilot is crushed down into his seat by almost a ton of force, and can barely lift a finger so the f 16 has a small side mounted control stick on an armrest instead of moving back and forth, the f 16's fixed joystick responds to hand pressure in a tight, high g turn, an otherwise immobilized f 16 pilot can literally fly with the twitch of a finger
us air force f 16 mig 29
us air force has ordered 126 craft to be used as 'target drones'. f 16 able to offer 'realistic threat' similar to the mig 29 . will be controlled by operators on the ground during simulations 