The end of an era

Mike Fogle, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron Detachment 1 mechanic, performs routine maintenance on a QF-4 Drone June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base N.M. The F-4 Phantom II first began flying in 1958 and is most famous for its performance in the Vietnam War. The F-4 officially retired in 1996 and now all operational Air Force F-4s have been converted to QF-4 Drones, which serve solely as remotely controlled unmanned targets for air-to-air and ground-to-air weapons systems evaluations, development and testing. QF-4s can also be flown as a conventionally manned fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

A QF-4 Drone sits on the flight line June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Holloman is host to the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1. On May 28, 2015, Tyndall Air Force base, Fla. flew their last QF-4 flight, making Holloman the only base in the Air Force that flies QF-4s. At Holloman, QF-4s are used as remotely controlled unmanned targets for air-to-air and ground-to-air weapons systems evaluations, development and testing. QF-4s can also be flown as a conventionally manned fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

A QF-4 Drone sits on the flight line June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The F-4 Phantom II first began flying in 1958 and is most famous for its performance in the Vietnam War. The F-4 officially retired in 1996 and now all operational Air Force F-4s have been converted to QF-4 Drones, which serve solely as remotely controlled unmanned targets for air-to-air and ground-to-air weapons systems evaluations, development and testing. QF-4s can also be flown as a conventionally manned fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

A QF-4 Drone sits on the flight line June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Holloman is host to the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1. On May 28, 2015, Tyndall Air Force base, Fla. flew their last QF-4 flight, making Holloman the only base in the Air Force that flies QF-4s. At Holloman, QF-4s are used as remotely controlled unmanned targets for air-to-air and ground-to-air weapons systems evaluations, development and testing. QF-4s can also be flown as a conventionally manned fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

Lieutenant Col. Ronald King, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1 commander and Mike Fogle, QF-4 Drone mechanic, go through a pre-flight checklist June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. King flew his first solo flight in the QF-4 Drone on June 3, making him the last pilot who will ever learn to fly the QF-4. At Holloman, QF-4s can be flown either manned or unmanned and are used as remotely controlled unmanned targets for air-to-air and ground-to-air weapons systems evaluations, development and testing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

Two QF-4 Drones taxi onto the runway on June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Lieutenant. Col. Ronald King, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1 commander, flew the QF-4 for the first time solo, making him the last pilot in the Air Force that learned to fly the QF-4. He was accompanied by James Harkins, a civilian pilot with the 82nd ATRS, Det 1, who also served as King’s instructor pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in the 1990s and at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. in the early 2000s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

A QF-4 Drone taxis back to its spot on the flight line June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Lieutenant. Col. Ronald King, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1 commander, flew the QF-4 for the first time solo, making him the last pilot in the Air Force that learned to fly the QF-4. He was accompanied by James Harkins, a civilian pilot with the 82nd ATRS Det 1, who also served as King’s instructor pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in the 1990s and at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. in the early 2000s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

Lieutenant Col. Ronald King gets sprayed down with water after his first solo flight in the QF-4 Drone June 3, 2015 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. King, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1 commander, flew the QF-4 for the first time solo, making him the last pilot in the Air Force that learned to fly the QF-4. He was accompanied by James Harkins, a civilian pilot with the 82nd ATRS, Det 1, who also served as King’s instructor pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in the 1990s and at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. in the early 2000s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

James Harkins, a civilian pilot with the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Detachment 1 and Lt. Col. Ronald King, 82nd ATRS, Det 1 commander, pose for a photo after flying in a QF-4 Drone June 3, 2015. King was the final pilot in the Air Force to learn how to fly the QF-4. Harkins, who taught King to fly the QF-4, also served as King’s instructor pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy in the 1990s and at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. in the early 2000s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney/Released)

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The end of an era

Published June 8, 2015