F-117A Nighthawk lands for last time [with photo]

Valley Press ^ | Tuesday, March 4, 2008. | ALLISON GATLIN

[Regulator]

A wonderful example of American ingenuity

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!

[cdbull23]

Haha, I think I had that game! All I remember was that I didn't know what most of the controls did. And Tripoli was always a mission location.

At least...I HOPE that's the game you're talking about.

[doorgunner69]

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.

[usurper]

All to be retired by year’s end.

I don’t suppose they are for sale, one would look good in my yard.

[driftdiver]

I have video of the F117 and was using a low end digital video camera.

[bugs_dallas]

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.

[TalonDJ]

SLR autofocus simply needs a line to focus on.

A line that reflect light reasonably well. Funny thing. That is EXACTLY what reflects radar really well and just the thing they wanted to make very fine and very non reflective.

[PresidentFelon]

Its called the TR3-B.

[Squantos]

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 ?

[Lord_Calvinus]

***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.

[Lord_Calvinus]

Correction, that is UCAV, not UCAD.

[PhilDragoo]

RAPTOR TEAM NEWS COVERAGE

[Chode]

it's all in the mind... i'm not 53, i'm Not 53, i'm NOT 53!!!

[ADemocratNoMore]

Several years ago I was coming home from a Browns game at the same time the Cleveland National Air Show was in progress. The Shoreway runs parallel to the Lake Erie shoreline, as do the runways at Burke Lakefront Airport. I'm driving along when I suddenly see the nose of a 117 coming right at me at what seemed to be about 100’ altitude. It was totally silent until it flew overhead, at which time the roar of the engines was deafening. Most impressive!.

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.

[Ronin]

I sort of wish we knew what they replaced it with.

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.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Remember when then President Jimmy Carter let it slip that we didn’t need the B-1 because we had “an invisible” plane?

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.

[tanknetter]

As I understand it, F-117 maintenance is a major PITA.... Probably one of the reasons why they're being retired.

Also that the F-117 is a one-trick pony with an ability to carry only two weapons. The future is multi-mission (F-22, F-35) or multi-weapons (bombers).

[Eric in the Ozarks]

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.

[glock rocks]

... 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.

[vox_freedom]

It also looks good on the ground...with its weapons displayed.