Stealth jet quietly slips into history

Toronto Star ^ | Thu. Nov. 2, 2006 | Bill Taylor

[NucSubs]

Stealth jet quietly slips into history F-117A fighter retired after 25 years Cutting-edge design cloaked in mystery Nov. 2, 2006. 12:54 PM BILL TAYLOR FEATURE WRITER

Almost as furtively as it flew above war zones from Bosnia to Baghdad, America's F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter has retired from active duty.

The years had snuck up on it. Though it remained cutting-edge contemporary in many people's minds, the Nighthawk had hit the quarter-century mark. At a discreet "Silver Stealth" ceremony at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico this week, some of the people who built, serviced and flew the plane marked the end of its 25-year career.

Much of the F-117A's innermost workings remain top-secret but it was outstripped by newer, even more space-age technology. All that remained was its public image. Its successor, the F-22 Raptor, appeared on the last day of the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto in September, its first foray outside the United States. The Raptor looks more like a conventional jet than the F-117A and didn't cause much excitement, other than among hard-core aviation buffs. When the Nighthawk made its Toronto debut in 1993, as it whispered over Ontario Place the crowd went crazy, pointing and yelling, "Stealth! Stealth!"

[Enchante]

Is it still functional?? I'd give or sell 'em all to Israel or Japan or South Korea if they can use 'em. Hate to see this baby grounded forever, even if we do have better options for the USA.

p.s. Saw SIX F-22s this summer flying for the air show at Hill Air Force base - an utterly amazing aircraft!! WOO, WOO....

[Names Ash Housewares]

Wow. I'm stunned. Didn't know about this coming.

[Ben Mugged]

[RightWhale]

This aircraft would be a high maintenance item, so while it probably works as well as ever, maybe better, the new technology F-22 would be getting the attention of the maintenance budget. It would probably be of no interest as a hand-me-down to allies because of the intensive maintenance.

[Tribune7]

You mean you didn't see it coming. Kind of keeps with the tradition :-)

[Names Ash Housewares]

LOL!

[pabianice]

The years had snuck up on it.

That's "sneaked," doofus.

[rottndog]

Hard to believe this is 25 years old already.

[NeonKnight]

Agreed. There are only a small handful of allies we would trust the technology with, and they probably have their budgets tied up in other projects.

while an effective weapons system, you probably don't get a whole lot of bang for your buck. Maintenance costs are probably exorbitant.

[NonValueAdded]

Whoa! Stealth to the very end! We had them out at Patrick AFB for an air show. There's the ocean, highway A1A, and the end of the runway right near the O club. I was driving by in a convertible when a pair flew over at about 50 ft. heading in for touchdown. 2nd most amazing thing I've seen in my life!

[bert]

..... I'm stunned....

This announcement makes me feel older than my bran new grandchild!!

[Right Wing Assault]

The first two dictionaries I looked at said 'snuck' was OK.

[norton]

Had one at MCAS air show last month, I don't remember a word about retiring them.

Still awesome to watch.

[Paleo Conservative]

It would probably be of no interest as a hand-me-down to allies because of the intensive maintenance.

Underneath the skin it is mostly standard F-15 and F-16 parts. I would think Japan would be interested in a squadron of these. Perhaps the Israelis could also use them too.

If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[FreedomProtector]

The F-117A Stealth fighter was in service for six years before the Air Force admitted its existence.

Makes you wonder what they have now that is a secret.

There has been development of low frequency radar along with improved noise removal (signal processing) algorithms the last 10 years. At lower frequencies the radar cross section increases, however there is much more radar return from undesirable sources.

I wonder if the primarily motivation for the retirement was the advancement of enemy low frequency radar, or our own better aircraft.

[RightWhale]

Sneak, snuck, snucked. Probably some regional variation.

[Question_Assumptions]

I'd love to give Japan, Taiwan, and Israel some of our old nuclear missile subs that are mothballed, too. Those countries could use a good second-strike capability.

[drsbb]

Hello, Names Ash Housewares:

And in September the Navy retired the F-14 several years ahead of schedule. What I wouldn't have given to get shot off a carrier in a Tomcat, but that chance is gone (as if there was much of a chance anyway).

[Lazamataz]

What the snuck. You are okay by me.