Farewell to the F-117

Silverstar · March 16th, 2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The world's first attack aircraft to employ stealth technology is slipping quietly into history.

The inky black, angular, radar-evading F-117, which spent 27 years in the Air Force arsenal secretly patrolling hostile skies from Serbia to Iraq, will be put in mothballs next month in Nevada.

It was very unique plane. I got to see the last flight of one of the F-117's which had the flag painted underbelly at the Edwards AFB air show a couple years back, got some good pictures of it stored away.

It's good to know that they'll be stored very contently at Tonopah, ready to fly again some day...personally I think it's a bit early for the plane to go down, though it is opening funding towards future weapons platforms.

It surely has served its purpose, and current planes in/going to be in service will do it's job well.

Viper007Bond · March 16th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Makes sense, but a shame to see it go.

Quote:

The Air Force decided to accelerate the retirement of the F-117s to free up funding to modernize the rest of the fleet. The F-117 is being replaced by the F-22 Raptor, which also has stealth technology.

wooflepoof · March 16th, 2008, 06:32 AM

I remember seein one at an air show on base a few years back. it looked incredible

IVIaster · March 16th, 2008, 09:10 AM

Was it not nicknamed the Hopeless Diamond for its poor flight abilities?

Blind_Io · March 16th, 2008, 09:13 AM

Not that I know of. Actually the F-117 flies very well.

PelicanHazard · March 16th, 2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVIaster

Was it not nicknamed the Hopeless Diamond for its poor flight abilities?

Its first nickname was the Wobblin' Goblin because its shape made it unstable.

Sad to see it go, but I guess it was only a matter of time.

-Cpt. J.- · March 16th, 2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

Not that I know of. Actually the F-117 flies very well.

I hear it is impossible to fly without all the computers.
Shame it is replaced. Look at that pic, it looks like Death.
Atleast it is replaced by a good plane, unlike the F-14.

Blind_Io · March 16th, 2008, 06:12 PM

There isn't a fighter plane made today that can be flown without computers, not even the F-16.

Steve Levin · March 16th, 2008, 08:07 PM

"Flies very well" is at best a euphemism for "doesn't try and kill you."

Later flight control systems allowed the F-117 to fly reasonably well, but it has a fairly narrow (much more than other aircraft such as the F-16 or F-22) envelope of airspeed and AOA that it flies within.

The earliest versions tended to "hunt" on a continuous basis and in gusty conditions landings were an "experience," according to the pilots I've chatted with.

Steve

FATMOUSE · March 16th, 2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

There isn't a fighter plane made today that can be flown without computers, not even the F-16.

Point of interest: unless it is in supersonic flight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

The YF-16 was the world's first aircraft to be slightly aerodynamically unstable by design. This feature is officially called "relaxed static stability." When supersonic, the aircraft exhibits positive static stability due to aerodynamic forces shifting aft between subsonic and supersonic flight. At subsonic speeds, however, the fighter is constantly on the verge of going out of control.

Still, the F117 served the US well. I guess it's on to newer and hopefully better aircraft to fill in its role.

I wonder how the F22 compares with the F117 in stealth. If it is equal or better than it, then its clearly the superior choice.

PelicanHazard · March 16th, 2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATMOUSE

I wonder how the F22 compares with the F117 in stealth. If it is equal or better than it, then its clearly the superior choice.

We might not know for a while, as its radar cross-section is still classified.

Wikipedia did offer this, though:

"The F-22 apparently relies less on maintenance-intensive radar absorbent material and coatings than previous stealth designs like the F-117. These materials caused deployment problems due to their susceptibility to adverse weather conditions. Unlike the B-2, which requires climate-controlled hangars, the F-22 can undergo repairs on the flight line or in a normal hangar. Furthermore, the F-22 has a warning system (called "Signature Assessment System" or "SAS") which presents warning indicators when routine wear-and-tear have degraded the aircraft's radar signature to the point of requiring more substantial repairs."

klutch · March 16th, 2008, 09:18 PM

Keeeeerist....its like the Alfa Romeo of the aircraft world...

Blind_Io · March 16th, 2008, 11:42 PM

Actually, that would be the F-14 Tomcat.

KaJuN · March 17th, 2008, 12:59 AM

Hey it's news from my neck of the woods! It's a shame it's sad news. The F-117 was, and still is, very revolutionary and it's sad to see it go. At least it can go into retirement knowing it served its country very well over its short career.

BlaRo · March 17th, 2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

Actually, that would be the F-14 Tomcat.

Nah, that would be more like the Callaway Sledgehammer, wouldn't it?

P.S. it's also one of my favorite planes ever.

BerserkerCatSplat · March 17th, 2008, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

Actually, that would be the F-14 Tomcat.

100% agree, the Tomcat is still my favorite aircraft of all time.

That being said, the F-117 is the most evil-looking plane of all time.

March 16th, 2008, 06:32 AM	#3
wooflepoof Square with a title Joined: Jul 18th, 2005 Last Online: 07:14 AM Location: Texas, but I go to school in RI,Canada Age: 21 Posts: 3,580 Car: 1990 BMW 735iL Rep Power: 36	I remember seein one at an air show on base a few years back. it looked incredible __________________ Start food threads!

March 16th, 2008, 09:10 AM	#4
IVIaster Not a dude. Joined: Dec 10th, 2005 Last Online: 10:11 AM Location: Finland Posts: 939 Car: 1990 Volvo 740 Rep Power: 11	Was it not nicknamed the Hopeless Diamond for its poor flight abilities? __________________ IVIaster´s gender is currently under review If you think roadtax is a good thing go to www.iamaclot.com

March 16th, 2008, 09:13 AM	#5
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 06:46 AM Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 27 Posts: 8,480 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VF750C2 Rep Power: 86	Not that I know of. Actually the F-117 flies very well. __________________ Life is like riding, you have to keep your balance to keep moving. Deacon of Dirt, Head of North American Anti-Environmental Inquisition (Left Coast Division). founder of The Church of Gear's Two Wheeled Sect. Zombie Slayer, Extraordinaire. Reasonable rates, inquire within.

March 16th, 2008, 06:12 PM	#8
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 06:46 AM Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 27 Posts: 8,480 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VF750C2 Rep Power: 86	There isn't a fighter plane made today that can be flown without computers, not even the F-16. __________________ Life is like riding, you have to keep your balance to keep moving. Deacon of Dirt, Head of North American Anti-Environmental Inquisition (Left Coast Division). founder of The Church of Gear's Two Wheeled Sect. Zombie Slayer, Extraordinaire. Reasonable rates, inquire within.

March 16th, 2008, 09:18 PM	#12
klutch Courteous urinator Joined: Jan 6th, 2006 Last Online: August 2nd, 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,641 Car: Whatever's in the press fleet. Rep Power: 25	Keeeeerist....its like the Alfa Romeo of the aircraft world... __________________

March 16th, 2008, 08:07 PM	#9
Steve Levin VIP Joined: Jun 7th, 2006 Last Online: 02:04 AM Location: Sunnyvale, California Posts: 674 Car: Spec Racer Ford! Rep Power: 17	"Flies very well" is at best a euphemism for "doesn't try and kill you." Later flight control systems allowed the F-117 to fly reasonably well, but it has a fairly narrow (much more than other aircraft such as the F-16 or F-22) envelope of airspeed and AOA that it flies within. The earliest versions tended to "hunt" on a continuous basis and in gusty conditions landings were an "experience," according to the pilots I've chatted with. Steve

March 16th, 2008, 11:42 PM	#13
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 06:46 AM Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 27 Posts: 8,480 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VF750C2 Rep Power: 86	Actually, that would be the F-14 Tomcat. __________________ Life is like riding, you have to keep your balance to keep moving. Deacon of Dirt, Head of North American Anti-Environmental Inquisition (Left Coast Division). founder of The Church of Gear's Two Wheeled Sect. Zombie Slayer, Extraordinaire. Reasonable rates, inquire within.

March 17th, 2008, 12:59 AM	#14
KaJuN Joined: Jul 31st, 2006 Last Online: 05:34 AM Location: Troy, Ohio, U.S. and A. Age: 22 Posts: 4,155 Car: Land Rover Discovery, 1980 Yamaha XJ650 Rep Power: 65	Hey it's news from my neck of the woods! It's a shame it's sad news. The F-117 was, and still is, very revolutionary and it's sad to see it go. At least it can go into retirement knowing it served its country very well over its short career. __________________ D-Fence: Kajun is just outside caressing his Discovery....touching it gently, you know......it is such a dirty bitch.....but he seems to love dirty girls in high heels who are taller then him and have "quite a few pounds" on their hips ^^ KaJuN:Creeping out Finalgear since May 3rd, 2008 Join my fan club. You know you want a piece of this action!

March 17th, 2008, 04:45 AM	#17
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