Testers at Tyndall AFB, Fla., last week destroyed a QF-4 drone over the Gulf of Mexico “for safety considerations” during its return to the base following a routine operation, announced base officials. The incident happened on July 10. Operators triggered the drone’s self-destruct charge, according to a posting at Tyndall’s Facebook page. The QF-4 was assigned to Tyndall’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The Air Force has used the remotely piloted QF-4s—which are regenerated F-4 fighters—for decades as full-scale aerial targets in air-to-air testing. The service is now transitioning to using QF-16s, converted out-of-service F-16s, in this role. (See also Final F-4 Regenerated for Use as Aerial Target.)
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.