QF-4 unmanned aerial vehicle crashes at Tyndall Air Force Base

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., 17 July 2013. A U.S. Air Force QF-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone assigned to the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida crashed on the drone runway during take-off at 8:25 a.m. No personnel were injured during the incident.

Image above: The first QF-16 arrives at Tyndall escorted by a QF-4. The QF-16 will undergo developmental testing by Boeing and eventually become part of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. The QF-16 is a supersonic reusable full-scale aerial target drone modified from an F-16 Fighting Falcon. At this time, the group uses QF-4s, made from 1960s F-4 Phantom, to conduct their full-scale aerial target missions. The targets allow the Air Force and allied nations to have a realistic understanding of what they could face on the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Cokeing)

Base and local police and safety officials closed Highway 98 for up to 24 hours 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. It is powered by a short-life battery which will be depleted in 24 hours. The charge is used to destroy the drone if it leaves its pre-approved flight plan.

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