F-117 Stealth Fighter Cut up and Scrapped

[RIP]

Anyone interested in military aviation will be interested. F-117A serial number 7900784, the 5th and final pre-production F-117A flown by the now deactivated 410th Flight Test Squadron, AF Plant 42, Palmdale, Ca, was mutilated and scrapped on Tuesday 26 August, 2008.

Aircraft 784, an Edwards AF Base Airshow Star, call sign Scorpion 5, was instrumental to the development of the worlds first aircraft designed from the get go as a stealth aircraft. It was the lead aircraft used to test advanced avionics upgrades and many other critical system modifications. Most notably, on 28 March, 2003, this aircraft, simultaniously dropped two EGBU-27 2000 lbs guided bombs, destroying a test range target and proving for the first time two sophisticated satellite guided weapons could be released at the same time and guided to a single target. Just 3 hours later, after given the go ahead by President Bush, an F-117A from the 49th Fighter Wing, struck the opening blow of Operation Iraqi Freedom using the technique proven by 784 to obliterate a suspected Saddam Hussein hideout. Though Saddam was not killed in this attack, it proved the lethality of the F-117A weapons system.

The sad event of 784's demise took place at Plant 42, in just 30 minutes with little fanfair. There was "no vacancy" at Tonapah, Nevada, the current home of the mothballed F-117 fleet. Attempts were made to transfer ownership to many high profile museums, however, none could afford the nearly $1,000,000 price tag to demilitarise and transport the aircraft. So with few alternatives, F-117A serial number 7900784 earned yet another but, final distinction. It became the first F-117A to be cut up and scrapped, the eventual fate of most of the remaining F-117A Stealth Fighters.

[BNaylor]

That is really sad. We had a F117 Stealth Squadron in my area at Holloman AFB, (Alamogordo) NM. However, it was deactivated with much fanfare. But in its place we now have a F-22 Raptor Squadron which technically replaced the F117. The F117 was not invinceable as we all know since one was shot down in Yugoslavia. Also, further testing with various US and captured Soviet radar systems proved it wasn't that stealthy or undetectable afterall. I was involved in one of those tests at Tonapah, NV. In addition to the F117 there is a lot of old Soviet equipment at Tonapah which included various SA missile systems and MIG aircraft to include MIG25. Sad to see it go but it made its mark on aviation history.

F-22 Raptor begin Operations in Holloman AFB, New Mexico
Written on June 7, 2008 – 9:03 am | by Frontier India Strategic and Defence |

Ceremonies held at Holloman AFB, N.M., today marked the formal beginning of operations for the F-22 Raptor with the United States Air Force’s 49th Fighter Wing. The 49th Fighter Wing has made its mark in military aviation history from World War II through every major military engagement to include more than 80 F-117 Nighthawk missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. With the arrival of the F-22 Raptor at Holloman AFB, the 49th Fighter Wing is definitely the “home of the stealth fighter.”

A total of 183 production Raptors are currently on contract, and 119 aircraft have been delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Raptors have been in operational service with the U.S. Air Force since December 2005.

Raptors are currently assigned to six U.S. bases. Flight testing takes place at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. Pilot and
crew chief training takes place at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Operational Raptors are assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and now the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, N.M. In the future, Raptors will be based at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

[RIP]

The F-22 has replaced the F-117, no doubt about it, and rightly so considering the leaps in stealth technolgy since the 70s when the F-117 was first conceived. The F-22 is an amazing machine in every respect.

The F-117 was another amazing machine in it's day, and is still a potent weapons system. One common (and understandable) misconception is the F-117 was designed to be undetectable, some say invisible to radar. The truth is it was designed to be less detectable than a standard airframe, much less. That said, the vulnerabilities were clear to the F-117 community. SPOs and flight test squadrons exist to overcome vulnerabilities in the aircraft they are designated to develop. What I can say is they were far from sitting on their hands (my words).

[BNaylor]

Another amazing aircraft was the SR71 Blackbird. Sad to see it deactivated but I understand at least 3 could come out of mothballs when needed.

Surprisingly, the U2 Dragon Lady is still around and used for reconnaissance and surveillance missions. But I heard the Global Hawk may replace it in the near future. Here is a pic of a U2 way up there in altitude probably around 70,000 feet but the exact altitude capability is classified. My son is an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Air Force and works with the U2.

[RIP]

Give your son a big pat on the back and thank you for me. You did good Dad!

The U2 depot facility is at Plant 42 also. They are a unique jet designed to do a unique mission. They've been threatened with decommissioning several times but always seem to survive the process. That says a lot about it's capability considering all the new hardware coming on the scene.

[BNaylor]

Thanks for the kudos. I'm proud of him and his brother. At least he is staying out of trouble, learning a trade with good benefits now and in the future unlike many kids his age. He is stationed at Osan AFB, S. Korea with the 5th Recon Squadron. The famous "Black Cat" Squadron. He is a propulsion tech and started out on the GE F110 series jet engines at Shepherd AFB, TX and then went to Beale AFB, CA for special training on the F118 jet engine. See link below from unclassified Wikipedia.

5th Recon Squadron

His brother is serving his final year at West Point and will be commissioned May 2009. Army Infantry. I served over 20 years in Army Air Defense Artillery, CWO4 so that would explain my interest in aviation/aircraft. I see you have background in the U.S. Air Force. As a fellow Veteran thanks for serving our country.

[RIP]

Good to see the "boys" are trying their best to keep up with Dad. I'm sure the man above will watch over them. Serving the country is a family affair for you folks. Great to hear about it.

Ya, I was in avionics maintenance in the Air Force for 26 years. Worked F-111s here and in Europe for 14 years then went to the F-117 flight test squadron for 12. Uncle Sam gave me an all expenses paid trip to Saudi Arabia for 7 months during the Gulf War. A great experience but, I wouldn't recommend it if your goal is to relax.

Replacing jets as technology progresses is a natural evolution. The sad thing is the F-117, and for that matter the F-111 had a lot of life and potentcy left in them. We had F-117 upgrade programs scheduled right through 2018. Unfortunately the astronomical cost of the F-22 and F-35 programs dictated cutting costs to pay for them. The F-117 program and others paid the price.

Currently there are 4 (a 5th soon) F-117s on display. Only 2 are easily accessable to the public. One is at the US Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio and another is at Blackbird Airpark at AF Plant 42, Palmdale, Ca. The others are at Nellis AFB, Nevada, in a secured area at AF Plant 42 and soon to be at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. It would appear to me the prospects for additional display jets is bleak considering the costs and logistics involved in demiling a classified jet. I hope I'm wrong.

[CoolasIce]

...........considering the costs and logistics involved in demiling a classified jet

What kind of things have to be done to demil it?
Are all of the 117s to be replaced soon, or just the A models?

[RIP]

Originally Posted by CoolasIce

What kind of things have to be done to demil it?
Are all of the 117s to be replaced soon, or just the A models?

On a normal jet a demil consists mainly of removing any guns/weapons to make it safe for the public. Then any components that may be useful on other aircraft are removed. Any classified avionics are then removed. On an F-117 the classified removals go well beyond the scope of a normal demil. That's as far as I can go.

There is only one model of the F-117, the "A" model. Well that is unless you want to count the original 5 preproduction YF-117As. All of them except for the 5 already on display and those that have crashed are in storage at Tonapah, Nevada. The last one arrived there two weeks ago. They are being replaced by the F-22 and the F-35. I don't know the exact number of existing F-22s but, 5 or 6 bases have them. I'm guessing there are around 80 flying. The F-35 is still in development.

[CoolasIce]

Thanks for the info.
I saw a show on the Discovery Channel about stripping out the F14 of electrical modules before it was scrapped for metal.
I hope a few were spared so they can go to museums and fly at air shows.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by RIP

Ya, I was in avionics maintenance in the Air Force for 26 years. Worked F-111s here and in Europe for 14 years then went to the F-117 flight test squadron for 12. Uncle Sam gave me an all expenses paid trip to Saudi Arabia for 7 months during the Gulf War. A great experience but, I wouldn't recommend it if your goal is to relax.

Small world. I was in Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, Dhahran for 3 years before Saddam's invasion into Kuwait and into Gulf War I as a Military Advisor. So I know what you mean.

Originally Posted by RIP

Currently there are 4 (a 5th soon) F-117s on display. Only 2 are easily accessable to the public. One is at the US Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio and another is at Blackbird Airpark at AF Plant 42, Palmdale, Ca. The others are at Nellis AFB, Nevada, in a secured area at AF Plant 42 and soon to be at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. It would appear to me the prospects for additional display jets is bleak considering the costs and logistics involved in demiling a classified jet. I hope I'm wrong.

Good to hear about getting one at Holloman AFB. Only a 80 mile drive from here. I'm surprised none are scheduled for Lackland AFB in San Antonio. I recall standing next to a demiled SR71 at that area where they have all the aircraft on display at the parade grounds. I have a pic somewhere if I can find it.

Thanks for the info.