US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has announced the first ever flight by a pilotless F-16 fighter.<br /><br />The modified plane took to the skies above Florida last week for a one-hour test flight.<br /><br />Two Air Force test pilots controlled the plane from the ground as it flew from Tyndal Air force base over the Gulf of Mexico.<br /><br />The jet, known as the QF-16, was renovated after being mothballed in the Arizona desert for 15 years.<br /><br />During the flight the jet performed a series of maneuvers including a barrel roll and a 'split S'.<br /><br />The QF-16 reached altitudes of up to 40,000ft (12.2km) and a speed of Mach 1.47 (1,119mph/1,800km/h) before making a textbook landing.<br /><br />The unmanned F16 was tailed by two planes to ensure it stayed in sight, and according to Boeing carried equipment that would allow it to self-destruct if necessary.<br /><br />The jet, one of six QF-16s already modified, will now be sent to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico for further test that will include live-fire testing.<br /><br />Boeing said that the technology would ultimately be used to help train pilots, providing an adversary they could practise firing on.<br /><br />One of a total of 210 planned unmanned jets, the first ones are projected to go into service sometime next year.<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />TomoNews is your daily source for top animated news. We've combined animation and video footage with a snarky personality to bring you the biggest and best stories from around the world.<br /><br />For news that's fun and never boring, visit our channel:<br />https://www.youtube.com/user/TomoNewsUS<br /><br />Subscribe to stay updated on all the top stories:<br />http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TomoNewsUS<br /><br />Stay connected with us here:<br />Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomoNewsUS<br />Twitter @tomonewsus http://www.twitter.com/TomoNewsUS<br />Google+ http://gplus.to/TomoNewsUS
