The F-117A Stealth Fighter Slips Quiety Into Retirement

[Arkaign]

Wobbly Goblin FTW 🙂 Best nickname ever! Though the nickname was undeserved in many ways. One of the prototypes was wobbly during testing before the computer/avionics smoothed things out, and the name got out and stuck.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: phoenix79

Originally posted by: maddogchen
so did the Serbs really shoot it down or what?

Dang I feel old. I remember how this was all the rage during the first Gulf war.

Yes, it was a lucky shot. Somehow, they got word that there was one coming through the area and completely flooded the area with AA fire and somebody got lucky.

yup..the serbs had spotters that monitor takeoffs from the base they operated from, so they let their buddies know that an F117 was on the way so they could guestimate how long it would take to get there (at least that is the story I remember from CNN or somewhere that night)...after that, they got lucky...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

They called it a fighter so that they could get the best pilots to fly it. They wouldn't want to fly a B or even an A when they could fly an F.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
These numbers correct?

59 made
7 crashed
1 shot down

(not a very good crash record..)

I am not surprised considering how hard I have heard this plane is to fly

F117 aerodynamics < stealth

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Devine

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Man, I didn't see that one coming.

Of course you didnt, it's stealthy 😀 Really we dont need it right now, we arent going into anything that has any kind of AAA threat that would need the F-117s capabilities. We own the skies in Iraq and Afghannyland, now if Iran or North Korea ever start to get frisky or whoever else for that matter they might bring it back out. I guess it depends on how stealthy the F-22s are but I dont think we're gonna know about that for a long time, silly gov. secrets 🙂

From what I've read, according to the engineers that worked on the respective planes:

The F-117 has a radar signature the size of a small bird

The F-22 has a radar signature the size of a bumblebee
Radar absorbent materials FTW! (Look at the thing, what else could it be?)


It that's even remotely true, then they're right to phase out the F-117

They should just wrap them in tin foil or space blanket...but then they probably couldn't find them even if they knew where they parked.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
They called it a fighter so that they could get the best pilots to fly it. They wouldn't want to fly a B or even an A when they could fly an F.

Guess that would want to "fly a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong?" either...

sorry...couldn't resist.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: phoenix79

Originally posted by: maddogchen
so did the Serbs really shoot it down or what?

Dang I feel old. I remember how this was all the rage during the first Gulf war.

Yes, it was a lucky shot. Somehow, they got word that there was one coming through the area and completely flooded the area with AA fire and somebody got lucky.

*nods* The pilots and/or planners ignored a long-known rule about bomb runs - don't continuously fly the same routes, because someone's going to notice. Doesn't matter how much stealth tech you've got when your path is already known.

I never got why they called this thing a fighter - isn't it solely a bomber?

From what I have seen/read about it, the government called it a fighter to help keep it covert and such. They did it on purpose so people wouldn't realize it was actually a bomber, but that's just what I have read/seen about it and might be incorrect.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: yllus


I never got why they called this thing a fighter - isn't it solely a bomber?

What about the B-2?

F-117A = Primarily for short/medium range bomb runs of conventional munitions.

B-2 = I will fly halfway across the world, drop nukes and fly home completely undetected. Built pretty specifically to crush the USSR.

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
From what I have seen/read about it, the government called it a fighter to help keep it covert and such. They did it on purpose so people wouldn't realize it was actually a bomber, but that's just what I have read/seen about it and might be incorrect.

Hmm, I think that makes more sense than to attract pilots. I know the Russians did the same thing with a few of their planes for years as well.

Edit: I put a dash in the wrong place.

 

[OUCaptain]

Thinking about the F117 makes me wonder what's about to get unveiled by the Gov. with an "oh by the way, we've had this for years" comment

 

[sdifox]

That is kind of a short span no? I guess the newer ones are better but I can't remember another plane with such short life. Other than the AVRO Arrow.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: sdifox
That is kind of a short span no? I guess the newer ones are better but I can't remember another plane with such short life. Other than the AVRO Arrow.

In modern history? I don't know. I think there were more than a couple during WWII though. Probably during the Korean and Vietnam wars as well.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
Thinking about the F117 makes me wonder what's about to get unveiled by the Gov. with an "oh by the way, we've had this for years" comment

Yeah, right after Iran gets turned into a parking lot probably. "hai guys! we has new toy!"

 

[AnitaPeterson]

from Wikipedia;

On 27 March 1999, during the Kosovo War, the 3rd Battalion of the 250th Missile Brigade under the command of Colonel Zoltan Dani, equipped with the Isayev S-125 'Neve' (NATO designation SA-3 'Goa') anti-aircraft missile system, downed a F-117A callsign "Vega 31," serial number 82-806 with a Serbian improved Neva-M missile.According to NATO Commander Wesley Clark and other NATO generals, Serb air defenses found that they could detect F-117s with their radars operating on unusually long wavelengths.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
Thinking about the F117 makes me wonder what's about to get unveiled by the Gov. with an "oh by the way, we've had this for years" comment

Ding ding ding!

I'm at a loss to even hazard a guess at what they've been sitting on. I want to know though. The F-22 (and the JSF) is really just a maturation of the tech pioneered in the Tacit Blue>F117>B2 Spirit. I want to freakin know what they are working on now.

 

[rh71]

I remember playing the F117a game on my P133 pc way back when...

 

[hellokeith]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
from Wikipedia;

On 27 March 1999, during the Kosovo War, the 3rd Battalion of the 250th Missile Brigade under the command of Colonel Zoltan Dani, equipped with the Isayev S-125 'Neve' (NATO designation SA-3 'Goa') anti-aircraft missile system, downed a F-117A callsign "Vega 31," serial number 82-806 with a Serbian improved Neva-M missile.According to NATO Commander Wesley Clark and other NATO generals, Serb air defenses found that they could detect F-117s with their radars operating on unusually long wavelengths.

I also heard that the pilot left his bomb bay doors open a minute after dropping bombs, which increased the plane's radar signature.

 

[destrekor]

It'll be missed. 🙁
But I wonder what's in the pipeline then. The F-22 has some great stealth capabilities they say, and the F-35 JSF is supposed to have stealth on the level of the F-22, if not better. But will that do? At that flight deck does the F-22 operate at, and what will the F-35 operate at? Surely the F-177A operated at a higher altitude to keep that stealth surprise.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: judasmachine

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
Thinking about the F117 makes me wonder what's about to get unveiled by the Gov. with an "oh by the way, we've had this for years" comment

Ding ding ding!

I'm at a loss to even hazard a guess at what they've been sitting on. I want to know though. The F-22 (and the JSF) is really just a maturation of the tech pioneered in the Tacit Blue>F117>B2 Spirit. I want to freakin know what they are working on now.

I can tell you, but I'd have to kill you. 😛

 

[alpineranger]

f-22 may have a small rcs, but I don't think it has the ir supression capability of the f-117

 

[randalee]

Not surprising. Can your F117 do THIS???

F22 can do some crazy stuff I've only seen RC airplanes do.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: randalee
Not surprising. Can your F117 do THIS???

F22 can do some crazy stuff I've only seen RC airplanes do.

the F-22 is for total air superiority. It can bomb, and it won't so much as fight but rather rape any air-to-air enemies. the thing is incredibly maneuverable and is what will help keep it in the air if it is ever engaged. I have a feeling any time when it is targeted, a skilled pilot will quickly be able to turn the situation around and have the enemy as a target.

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Man, I didn't see that one coming.

well it's stealth 😛

wow

 

[50cent1228]

wow im old

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: destrekor
It'll be missed. 🙁
But I wonder what's in the pipeline then. The F-22 has some great stealth capabilities they say, and the F-35 JSF is supposed to have stealth on the level of the F-22, if not better. But will that do? At that flight deck does the F-22 operate at, and what will the F-35 operate at? Surely the F-177A operated at a higher altitude to keep that stealth surprise.

The F-22 is supposedly the most stealthy of them all. Remember it's roughly 3rd generation stealth and wasn't compromised for cost and versatility like the F-35. On top of that, it supercruises at very high altitudes.

The AF released some RCS figures... believe them if you feel like it.... 😉

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[Gothgar]

Well... they are keeping them around till they need em again at least...