1980's drones QF-86's, QF-100's & PQM-102's

[xkekeith]

A few old fighters getting a new lease of life as drones or missile development targets.

A couple of QF-86F's were at Mojave employed on a US Army contract:

23206 QF-86E US Army (N5592D) by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

23283 QF-86E US Army (N2290Z) by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

Also at Mojave a F-100F 56-3899 used for a US Army SAM development programme, the registration N8056Y was not formally used and the aircraft became N404FS.

N8056Y F-100F Flight Systems ex 56-3899 by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

The QF-100 drone conversion programme had just started at Sperry's facility at Phoenix Goodyear with the contract for the first nine (2x YQF-100D, 6x QF-100F and 1 QF-100F). I managed to photograph three of the first test batch plus a chase / training F-100F used to support the programme.

62912 QF-100D Sperry drone conversion by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

62978 QF-100D ex Texas ANG drone conversion by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

63324 QF-100D Sperry Flight Systems by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

Ex Texas ANG F-100F used by Sperry note the amended red fin band, the contract to convert this aircraft to a QF-100F was reported as cancelled.

63861 F-100F SFS training a/c by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

A PQM-102 drone:

70909 '790' PQM-102 Drone SFS by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

And a F-102A fresh from MASDC awaiting conversion:

0-61488 F-102A ex Minnesota ANG by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

More to follow as soon as I get another box of slides out of the loft....

[james baker]

Very original and interesting set it’s amazing where folks have been and the records made top draw .

[daggerfan]

Very nice pics, especially the F-102s! I visited Mojave in 1982 and 1986. A place of pleasant surprises round every corner. Thanks for posting.

[dragonchaser]

Brilliant post this, I went to Mojave several times in the late 80’s early 90’s, and as daggerfan says, you just didn’t know what you would find there. Great times back then!

[Seahawk 11]

A great set of photos of some fantastic aircraft, many thanks for sharing them,
Rob

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Very interesting,lovely to see the f-100s.

[Punkrunner62]

Brilliant post.
Cheers.

[slogen51]

Awesome stuff

Love the look of the F-100 although I think I only actually saw Danish sleds in service.

[paddyboy]

Brilliant shots, Keith

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[tim_3216]

Mojave always had interesting aircraft, especially the drone conversions. Thanks for posting.