Lockheed
F-117 Nighthawk
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Role Stealth attack aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation
First flight June 18, 1981; 42 years ago
Introduction October 1983; 39 years ago
Retired 22 April 2008 (Combat use)
Status Used as training aircraft as of 2023
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 64 (5 YF-117As, 59 F-117As)
Developed from Lockheed Have Blue
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History Lockheed
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
The first YF-117A, serial number 79-10780, made its maiden flight from Groom Lake ("Area 51"), Nevada, on 18 June 1981, only 31 months after the full-scale development decision. The first production F-117A was delivered in 1982, and operational capability was achieved in October 1983. The 4450th Tactical Group stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, were tasked with the operational development of the early F-117, and between 1981 (prior to the arrival of the first models) and 1989 they used LTV A-7 Corsair IIs for training, to bring all pilots to a common flight training baseline and later as chase planes for F-117A tests
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Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Photo Gallery
Lockheed/Martin Aircraft
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Lockheed Martin
Crew: 1
Length: 65 ft 11 in (20.09 m)Wingspan: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)
Height: 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)
Wing area: 780 sq ft (72 m2)
Powerplant
Empty weight: 29,500 lb (13,381 kg)
Max takeoff weight: (23,814 kg)
Powerplant:
2 × General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofan engines, 9,040 lbf (40.2 kN) thrust each
Specifications
Maximum speed: 594 kn (684 mph, 1,100 km/h)
Maximum speed: Mach 0.92
Range: 930 nmi (1,070 mi, 1,720 km)
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (14,000 m)Wing loading: 67.3 lb/sq ft (329 kg/m2) calculated from
Armament
2 × internal weapons bays with one hardpoint each (total of two weapons) equipped to carry: Bombs: GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided bomb with 2,000 lb (910 kg) Mk84 blast/fragmentation or BLU-109 or BLU-116 Penetrator warhead GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb with 500 lb (230 kg) Mk82 blast/fragmentation warhead GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bomb with 2,000 lb (910 kg) Mk84 blast-fragmentation or BLU-109 or BLU-116 Penetrator warhead GBU-31 JDAM INS/GPS guided munition with 2,000 lb (910 kg) Mk84 blast-frag or BLU-109 Penetrator warhead B61 nuclear bomb
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Links to Youtube & Others
On 21 April 2023, two F-117s were sighted flying low (roughly 200 ft AGL) through the Sidewinder Low Level Training Route in the R-2508 Special Use Airspace Complex. The Nighthawks were photographed and videoed flying low though a canyon in Sequoia National Forest by an aviation photographer who posted the video and images to Instagram shortly after the sighting.
Lockheed/Martin
F-117A Nighthawk
The F-117 Nighthawk was developed in response to the urgent national need for a jet fighter that could operate completely undetected by the enemy.
Youtube Link
Join me in this walkaround tour of the "Stealthfighter"! The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a revolutionary aircraft and military aircraft icon, and this one is on display at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton OHIO.
Read more in Lockheed Aviation
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