Retiring the F117 stealth fighter

[Rick93coupe]

Its amazing that that plan made its first flights in 1981. Can you imagine how much the technology has changed in the last couple of decades!
http://www.wkrg.com/news/article/stealth_fighter_being_retired/11303/

[PaulFiveOh]

The thing still looks like its from 2020!

Amazing.

[Pops Fun]

That is an amazing airplane. Ge engines.... The new (f22) one has Pratt engines. Well wait and see what the one in development has..

Steve

[Black92LX]

When I look at the technology we know about.

It just makes me wonder about "area 51" and all the "UFO" sightings.
I can't help but think the government has some pretty wicked classified shit that we just don't know about.

[Greg Seibert]

:(


Washington DC - After a 27-year run, the Air Force is retired the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Meant to be nearly invisible to radar, the F-117 has bombed targets in Panama, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq. The F-117s are currently being replaced with the F-22 Raptor.

An informal retirement ceremony will be held at Wright-Patterson Air Force base and the last flights will take off from Holloman Airbase in New Mexico on April 21. The planes will be preserved for a quick return to service if needed.

The intentionally misnamed F-117 Stealth Fighter is actually a bomber that can carry up to two bombs. In order to decrease the plane's radar signature, the bombs must be carried in internal bays that open up just before the weapon's release.

59 F-117s were made and seven have crashed. Serbia claims to have shot down one of the seven during the Kosovo conflict in 1999, but the Air Force says mechanical damage forced the plane to the ground. During the first Gulf War conflict, a British ship claims to have detected an F-117 jet.

By today's standards the F-117 was a very cheap aircraft. Each F-117 cost approximately $45 million dollars while the plane's replacement, the F-22 Raptor, costs approximately $200 million each.

[Sharad]

neat planes. I read a book about them. Very cool technology considering the computer technology when they were designed was NOTHING compared to what we have now...

[corey331]

I work at Wright Patt and i was in the tower when the 3 F-117's came in for the retirement ceremony..... those things are just amazing to look at. One of them had the American Flag painted on the entire bottom.

[poncho2001]

I read "Skunk Works" a few years ago. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in this kind of information. Below is a link to the book.
http://www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/Skunk_Works-A_Personal_Memoir_of_My_Years_at_Lockheed/0316743003/

[poncho2001]

I work at Wright Patt and i was in the tower when the 3 F-117's came in for the retirement ceremony..... those things are just amazing to look at. One of them had the American Flag painted on the entire bottom.

Did you get a picture of them in flight? I would like to see the one with the flag on the bottom.

[corey331]

No. They tend to frown upon Digital cameras in a Armed Forces air tower. There was a bunch of media there though, i'll see if i can't find a picture of it for ya.

[poncho2001]

No. They tend to frown upon Digital cameras in a Armed Forces air tower. There was a bunch of media there though, i'll see if i can't find a picture of it for ya.

That would be cool, Thanks

[BigBadStang]

That F22 Raptor is one awesome mother, no matter what it costs!

[corey331]

Here ya go!!! It was waaaayyy cooler in person!!!

http://usera.imagecave.com/corey331/NewAlbum/AmericanF117.JPG

[BigBadStang]

Nice!! :bigthumb:

[poncho2001]

Here ya go!!! It was waaaayyy cooler in person!!!

http://usera.imagecave.com/corey331/NewAlbum/AmericanF117.JPG

Very Cool :bigthumb
Thanks

[Timido]

That is slick! The are great planes. First time I saw one there were only rumors of them coming. I was at Nellis AFB and saw one land at night the travel pod was up in the bomb bay. They let us look it over while a security police guarded it in the hanger. Hard to believe they can keep stuff like that out of the public eye for so long.