Originally Posted by
RAFEngO74to09
Actually that Phantom is normally flown without even a pilot in it - it is / was one of the last of the QF-4E targets drones !
Not quite true, that particular Phantom would be flown 'manned' until scheduled for 'termination' once it was out of airframe hours etc, where it would then gain dayglo orange outer wing panels and tail fin. There are still around 25-30 QF-4E's at Holloman AFB, they should last to the end of the year when the QF-4 programme is finally due to draw to a close, unless the QF-16's are still not up to speed, whereby they may soldier on for a while longer.
-RP