Good Night Hawk

March 24, 2008

The last flight of the F-117A Night Hawk stealth fighter is set for April 22 at Tonopah Test Range Airfield in Nevada, which also was the site of the aircraft's first official flight nearly 27 years ago in 1981. The first six of these aircraft were retired a little over a year ago. The remaining aircraft (of 64 total aircraft that were built) will then have their wings removed and placed into "recallable storage" in their original hangers.

While it was made operational in late-1983, its operational stealth was maintained and it was only revealed to the public more than five years later in 1988. The sharp-edged design on the F-117 surprised many people when it was first shown with its unconventional appearance and extremely low radar signature. While designated as an "F-117", it really was a bomber/attack aircraft, but the "F" designation was found to be better for attracting personnel, according to reports.

Designed at the Lockheed Skunk Works, the aircraft still drew considerable attention at air shows and displays more than 25 years after its first flight. It was always one of the big hits at the Chicago Air Show in late-August which is when I first saw one.

Only one F-117 was ever shot down in combat. That aircraft was downed by an anti-aircraft missile in the Kosovo War in 1999, when Serbian forces found they could get a quick glimpse of it when they adjusted their radars to operate at long wavelengths. The F-117s are being replaced in the U.S. Air Force inventory by the newer and even more effective stealth F-22 and F-35 aircraft. No F-117 aircraft were ever manufactured for export. E-mail the editor