F-117s fly into retirement

outlandishogle · Oct 26, 2008

By far one of the coolest planes ever. besides the old ww2 mustangs

nice pics

cszakolczai · Oct 26, 2008

Awesome pictures, as mentioned the F-22 Raptor is going to be taking its place and soon the F-35 will become the primary strike fighter for the Navy, and if I'm not mistaken the Airforce is going to be purchasing some as well. Either way the 2 upcoming aircraft are absolutely remarkable in what they can do.

rufus5150 · Oct 26, 2008

Makes me feel old. I remember when these "didn't exist" (but were oddly crashing now and again).

|)\/8 · Oct 26, 2008

ToddB said:
Great shots Mules!

I hate to see them retired but apparently the F22 and F35 have all the stealth capability and better manuverability of the F117 and are apparently cheaper to operate.

This plane, along with the old F-4, proved that with enough power, you can make a brick fly!!!

That is exactly right. I was just down at NAS Jacksonville at their flight training center and that is what I was told. I was also told that the F117 flew for 10 years before the government ever admitted that it existed.

retiredebt1 · Nov 23, 2008

Good information is a little difficult to come by but it seems that 4 F-117s will fly by Plant 42 in Palmdale California on their way to Tonopah where they will mothballed. The fly-by and retirement ceremony at Plant 42 (based on the best info I can find) will be between 10am and 11am on Monday morning.

phoenix_rising · Nov 24, 2008

Crosby said:
Cool Pics. :thumbup: Seems like its early to retire these fighters.

I agree. But I guess the business minds at the Pentagon decided the USA can afford to pay for a pile of F-22s.

Chris of Arabia · Nov 24, 2008

I've only ever seen one in the flesh (so to speak) back in November 1991 some months after the 1st Gulf War at Dhahran air base. I was able to get only yards from it and the stealth design had a weird affect on human eyes too. It was very difficult to get a true perspective on what shape it was - the finish just seemed to suck light into it. Impressive if ultimately lethal piece of kit.