F-117A fighter retired after 25 years

mpenguin1

mpenguin1

Well-Known Member
Stealth jet quietly slips into history

Almost as furtively as it flew above war zones from Bosnia to Baghdad, America's F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter has retired from active duty.


The years had snuck up on it. Though it remained cutting-edge contemporary in many people's minds, the Nighthawk had hit the quarter-century mark. At a discreet "Silver Stealth" ceremony at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico this week, some of the people who built, serviced and flew the plane marked the end of its 25-year career.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...le&cid=1162421411280&call_pageid=968332188854
 
Oh man just as Mike D go used to having a computer fly him around, especially places he didn't want it to go! Hey Mike you changing aircraft again? I thing the T-6 might be up your alley!
 
Mike D should go to the F/A-22. If he goes to the T-6 though it'd be a pleasure to have him as an instructor in a couple of years.:)
 
aloft said:
Mike's not that kind of fighter pilot. (And it's back to just "F-22" now)


He's not that kind of pilot, either.
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LOL, that's why I wrote that he his next plane should be the T-6. He'd hate it so much, plus he have to conform to the man's rules! Not gonna happen!:bandit:
 
He hasn't flow the A-10 in several years. He upgraded to the F-117. I think now he's flying UFO's out at Area 51! :sarcasm:
 
"Upgraded" to the stinkbug? I dunno that I'd call it an upgrade...

My guess is he's probably going back to the 'Hog.
 
I thought he was doing crash investigation stuff?

DNIF because of medical? who knows?


But I think only F15 guys flow through to the 22.
 
frog_flyer said:
I thought he was doing crash investigation stuff?

DNIF because of medical? who knows?


But I think only F15 guys flow through to the 22.
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nope..we have guys from all fighter communities in the 22 right now. Many 16 and a few Hog Drivers along with all the 15 guys.
 
you know, there are still talks going on saying that the F-117 might still be used and change its a role a little bit. I think that if the air force pulls them from service, then they are making a big mistake. I am not dissing the F-22, but its to my knowledge that the raptor not as capable as the F-117 in a strike mission facet. If I am correct the F-22 has to carry bombs on hard points on the wings which in theory will make the raptor not stealthy. But I am just a observer on this and I am only stating my opinion.


-Farva
 
USAFplt said:
Many 16 and a few Hog Drivers along with all the 15 guys.
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You certain about that? The message that came out earlier this year specifically stated that the requirement was that the pilot had to be current in a fighter with a RADAR. I don't think there are any A-10 guys in the Raptor that did not also have time in an Eagle or Viper.
 
Hacker15e said:
If that were true, you could bet that the AF would not be retiring the 117 in favor of the Raptor.
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That may be true, but the government sometimes makes huge oversights.
Just look at Vietnam, they thought that air combat was only going to be using missles from now on and not guns. They had a huge problem with F-4's being shot down or not getting any enemy aircraft because either missles failed or they were too close for missles to properly work. So they brought in a gun pod and that sorta fixed the problem. So who's to say that the government is not making a oversight with the retirement of the F-117?

-Farv
 
Hacker15e said:
If that were true, you could bet that the AF would not be retiring the 117 in favor of the Raptor.
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You know as well as anyone that the USAF is going to manipulate anything they can to get what they want. How bout Cope India? Our 15s are getting plowed by indians! we need more 22s!!
 
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