Pharewell to the Phantom | Aviation International News

Pharewell to the Phantom

The US Air Force retired the classic jet with the final flight of a QF-4 that was serving as an unmanned aerial target.

A QF-4 flown by a single pilot was displayed at the EAA Oshkosh airshow last July. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

December 27, 2016

The U.S. Air Force has retired the F-4 Phantom after 53 years of service. The last flight of a pair of aircraft took place with due ceremony at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, on December 21. The aircraft were QF-4 full-scale aerial targets (FSAT) assigned to the 82nd squadron of the 53rd wing. The FSAT mission provides aerial targets for all weapons systems in the U.S. Defense Department. The QF-4s were converted to unmanned configuration by BAE Systems; they are being replaced with QF-16s converted by Boeing.

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