F-117 Nighthawk - Stealth Fighter

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Saw this article about an F-117 Nighthawk being retired to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and realized we have not yet started a dedicated thread for this aircraft.

So.... here we go ! ! !

We'll start with these photos and their source article:

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https://www.airforcetimes.com/veter...AIR&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

[h=1]Restored F-117 Nighthawk coming to Reagan Library[/h]

And here's a WIKI Link about this wonderful bird:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-117_Nighthawk


And a look inside her structure:





Feel free to add to this thread.

 

[M813rc]

Those were cool planes. Glad I got to see, and hear (strange sounding plane) them flying, including an airshow demonstration.

I remember back in the day, in the serious aviation journals there was much discussion of the possibility that the US was developing a "radar invisible" aircraft, and much speculation that the crash near Bakersfield might have been the prototype.
When the Air Force finally revealed the aircraft's existence and confirmed the rumours, it also revealed that the aircraft was NOT a prototype, but had been in active service for many years already. We had actually kept a secret!!

Cheers

 

[Guyfang]

There is solid rumor that a few of them are still in use at Groom Lake. Read something about them being spotted, in Air and Space a month or three ago.

 

[SCM35A2]

Got to see one of these in flight a few years ago at a local air show!

 

[Tracer]

There is solid rumor that a few of them are still in use at Groom Lake. Read something about them being spotted, in Air and Space a month or three ago.

Guy I heard the same rumor that there were a half dozen F-117s being used for test purposes at Groom Lake. Testing what?

 

[Guyfang]

All the at I can remember from Air and Space was that it was being used for "Testing". It was a short article, as other then people taking a picture of it, they really knew nothing else concrete about the whole deal. And as we all know, Groom Lake is a place that we normal mortal people never really know everything about.

 

[Tracer]

https://www.businessinsider.com/air...-aircraft-still-flies-after-retirement-2018-7 Guy, here's a little info on the recent sightings of F-117 aircraft operating in the vicinity of Groom lake. Watch the vid at the end of the story.

 

[cucvmule]

Considering the wing loading in flight I am awed every time one flies. The shape and design, thickness of the wing makes me think that there is no way to get airborne.

I would guess that the airframe will be another that will be around for some time. Especially for the mission it was designed for.

 

[cucvmule]

And as for retirement I am "sure that they are not flying anymore".