Posted on 03/04/2008 12:18:18 PM PST by BenLurkin
PALMDALE - The once top-secret Blackbirds on display in Palmdale have a new nest mate: the F-117A Nighthawk, also known as the stealth fighter. The dart-shaped aircraft, the fourth of its kind built and used solely for testing, was moved into display position Monday at Blackbird Airpark, taking its place beside other former "black" aircraft, the SR-71 and U-2.
"Look at how many black airplanes you can come see right here," said Fred Johnsen , curator of the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, of which Blackbird Airpark is a satellite.
Escorted by members of the 410th Flight Test Squadron, the aircraft's home for its flying lifetime, the F-117 was towed from the squadron's facility at Air Force Plant 42 across the field to the airpark, at 25th Street East and Avenue P.
The move required coordination with Plant 42 officials, including the removal of parts of a couple of fences to get the aircraft securely within the airpark.
Once at the airpark, the plane was secured to a cement pad prepared in recent months for its arrival.
After the aircraft was retired March 28 , members of the 410th Flight Test Squadron volunteered to prepare it for public display.
The refurbishment took seven months, said Chief Master Sgt. Dave Johnson of the 410th.
Volunteers, from the squadron commander on down, worked on the extensive project, led by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Kent and Tech. Sgt. Bill Ball.
The aircraft was carefully stripped of its military hardware, including large portions which still are considered classified, and refurbished to its original appearance.
They removed such hardware as the engines, tailpipes, radar-absorbing material on the skin, much of the nose and even the glass from the cockpit, Fred Johnsen said.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Actually, radar evasion is the result of independent analysis done by Pyotr Ufimtsev , a Russian who wrote the paper in his native language that got things going.
The ingenuity applied by Ben Rich and the people at the Skunk Works was that they a) bothered to read his paper, and b) decided to see if it worked by building something.
Would be interesting to know someday if the Soviet air force ever did the same, or if they just ignored him. Since he's still alive and working at UCLA, you could probably email him and ask!
At least...I HOPE that's the game you're talking about.
That was a lot of fun. Got pretty good at it too, and never knew about the “secret refueling bases” you supposedly could land at in enemy territory.
I dont suppose they are for sale, one would look good in my yard.
I have video of the F117 and was using a low end digital video camera.
because Wesley Clark failed to promptly obliterate the
remains of the ONE F-117A that was shot down in combat...
well - shortly after that we accidently blew the @#!# out
of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Some guy used old maps
so he got fired and we apologized.
Its called the TR3-B.
Yes that is an awesome web site for good solid info.
The only two burps I have heard of the F22 was a software glitch when they crossed the international dateline heading for Korea. And the Pilot that got trapped when the cockpit canopy froze up......
Anymore news ?
***The F-117s are *only* 25 years old and are being retired.***
I suppose that depends upon what you mean. The technology was all developed early 70’s. It had only limited RAM technology and very limited offensive capability. The Lightning II is truly a stealth fighter/ bomber. And, the technology for replacing the F-35 is already under testing ,plus, I believe that the F-45 ~ I think that is the proper designation for the UCAD ~ is getting ready to enter production phase....
As far as the comment re the Nighthawk that was shot down (another poster), even though presumably the Russians now have the remains of the aircraft, they may have the materials of the RAM, but they don’t necessairly have manufacturing capability, which is STILL top secret. But, they do claim to have the ability to artifically create a plasma envelope for their fighters, which can be retrofitted to existing planes. It would, if true, render their planes even more invisible than our best stealth technology.
This plane is being retired because her time has come, just like the time has come for the F-15 & F-16, both comparable time weapons.
Correction, that is UCAV, not UCAD.
Due to my location, I've had overflights by B-1’s, B-2’s, F-117’s, and others when the air shows were running.
That's what I feel about the Blackbird. Now THAT was an awesome aircraft. Still is...
As for the F-117A? Meh...
It was a fighter in name only. Subsonic, no guns no missiles, small bomb load, and way too expensive. It's only defense, stealth, required nighttime operations to keep it out of danger.
The F-22 is the obvious stealth follow-up in the fighter bomber role, but what about the Blackbird?
I have been hearing the name "Aurora" bandied about, but not much else. I guess they are seriously keeping that baby under wraps.
The press went nuts and the DOD had to release a really grainy photo of the aircraft.
That is how long the stealth aircraft program has been going on.
Yeah, our little airport here at Lake of the Ozarks could use some excitement too. We get A-10s out of Whiteman almost every week. The 117’s would be a nice touch.
... and the craft that you can bet your butt that are available to replace it are through testing, and no one has a hint of what that was that flew over the pasture last night. It wasn’t an f-22. It wasn’t (yet) an f- anything. And yes, it was black.
It also looks good on the ground...with its weapons displayed.
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