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F-117 Nighthawk F-117 flying over mountains in Nevada in 2002 General information Type Stealth attack aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation Status Retired from combat, used as training aircraft as of 2025 Primary user United States Air Force Number built 64 (5 YF-117As, 59 F-117As) History Introduction date October 1983 ; 41 years ago (1983-10) First flight ...
Also proposed for the unbuilt naval F-117N variant of the F-117 Nighthawk. [29] F414-EDE "Enhanced Durability Engine" or "EDE", includes an improved high-pressure turbine (HPT) and high-pressure compressor (HPC). The HPT is redesigned to withstand slightly higher temperatures and includes aerodynamic changes.
Early stealth aircraft were designed with a focus on minimal radar cross section (RCS) rather than aerodynamic performance. Highly stealthy aircraft like the F-117 Nighthawk are aerodynamically unstable in all three axes and require constant flight corrections from a fly-by-wire (FBW) flight system to maintain controlled flight. [20]
After a series of successful test flights beginning in 1977, the Air force awarded Skunk Works the contract to build the F-117 stealth fighter on November 1, 1978. During the entirety of the Cold War , the Skunk Works was located in Burbank, California, on the eastern side of Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport ( 34°12′03″N 118°21′07″W ...
The "Baja Scopion" unit remained at Groom Lake until the last production F-117 was delivered from Lockheed in July 1990. During the operational lifetime of the F-117, personnel from Tonopah and later Holloman AFB were temporarily deployed to Groom Lake for checkout flights of classified elements of the aircraft. [2]
The Air Force possesses 45 F-117s, some in flyable condition, As of 2023. The Air Force plans to operate the type through 2034. [38] F-15C/D Eagle: McDonnell Douglas: USA Jet Air superiority: Manned 1979 (F-15C/D) [39] 149 [40] 12 D variants [2] are used for training. The Air Force is seeking to divest 65 F-15s in FY2025. [41] F-15E Strike Eagle
The GBU-27 Paveway III (Guided Bomb Unit) is a laser-guided bomb with bunker buster capabilities, it is a GBU-24 Paveway III (fitted on the warhead of the BLU-109 bomb body) that has been redesigned to be used by the F-117A Nighthawk stealth ground attack aircraft.
Other examples include the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft and the Fouga CM.170 Magister trainer. The Cirrus Vision SF50 jet is a recent example of a civilian aircraft adopting the V-tail. Some gliders, like the Lehtovaara PIK-16 Vasama, were designed with a V-tail, but the production Vasamas had a cruciform tail. [3]