[STARMAN 352ND]

I'm going to miss this one.
I really liked the looks of this F-117.
JP

[mustangdriver]

Oh yeah, the F-117 is a sweet looking aircraft. I wonder if we are going to see a warbird F-117

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

FormerViperDriver,
Hey there.

I was hoping to get some feedback from you on this, thanks.

I guess I should have phrased my question slightly differently. I'm not really questioning the "lack" of longevtivity of the F-117, just the longevtivity in comparison to the other airframes we are currently using. Yes, 25 years and pretty damn old. However, as we both pointed out, the USAF has several ariframes that are much older. I was kind of under the impression that with the rising cost of airplanes and whatnot, we were EXPECTING them to last much longer. I would not have been surprised to hear we are beginning a program to stretch the airframe another 20 years instead of "hastening" its retirement.

Then again, I'm not a flyer so I really don't know anything except what the L.A. Times prints. (Which is pretty decent, by the way. Some real in depth coverage on airforce goings ons. At least there have been, who knows what will happen with the curent buy-out and regime change? No, I'm not looking to change the topic.)

djjeffhall,

Yeah, I knew what you meant but just took the opportunity to vent a little bit. Nothing agaisnt what you wrote.

As to the proximate cause of the retirement, I think hoverbug, slammin, and skysurfer captured that pretty well. High maintenance costs (which is what got the F-111 as well)coupled with F-22 arriving (more versatility with less maintenance required) did it. Too bad in a way, but it was probably time...

I do think we need more than 183 Raptors to replace all the F-117 plus the F-15C and eventually even the F-15E... The F-35 will be here eventually as well, but still.

FVD

[SKUNKY]

I've always been a huge admirer of the F-117, and I believe it's because this bird even today has such a radical look to it that we still perceive it as being cutting-edge technology, and therefore it just seems strange that the AF is putting it out to pasture "so early," Just like with the Tomcat, as much as I hate to see it go, there really is no other logical choice. The Nighthawk has been rendered superfluous by newer toys..
For some reason neither the Air Force or the Navy have ever chosen to keep airplanes around just because I happen to think they're cool looking.....(and that's just plain sad)

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

For some reason neither the Air Force or the Navy have ever chosen to keep airplanes around just because I happen to think they're cool looking.....(and that's just plain sad)

Ain't that the truth!

Hey, in that department, I just read the RAF will be flying the Vulcan bomber again pretty soon, just for airshows. That was a cool looking aircraft to me.

I'll miss the F-117 too. When I was a young Lieutenant in the Air Force, early 80s, some of my somewhat older squadron mates (from an F-111 unit, the 390 TFS at Mountain Home AFB, ID) got to go to this mysterious assignment at Nellis AFB, Nevada. They were flying black A-7s but everyone knew they were really doing something "different." They just couldn't tell us what it was. Turned out we found out a few years later (when they declassified the program in the early 90s) that they had been part of the initial F-117 force. I never applied for the job myself, instead chosing to go to the F-16 (I really wanted to do air-to-air as well as drop bombs).

Anyway, a great airplane in its day, but I guess it's time for it to bow out, just like the F-14 (now that was some jet as well!).

FVD

[STARMAN 352ND]

As a old saying goes "All good things must come to a end"
First the F-14 and now the F-117.....Before too long it will be the F-15 next....

[DCRanger]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

I just read the RAF will be flying the Vulcan bomber again pretty soon, just for airshows. That was a cool looking aircraft to me.

It's not the RAF that is flying it, it is a private venture supported by Lottery donations, corporate sponsorship and public donations. They are stil looking for money and I think that will be an ongoing quest for a very long time given the operating costs and insurance.

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by DCRanger

It's not the RAF that is flying it, it is a private venture supported by Lottery donations, corporate sponsorship and public donations. They are stil looking for money and I think that will be an ongoing quest for a very long time given the operating costs and insurance.

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/

OK, thanks for the clarification. I hope they get the money somehow.

FVD

[TopHat]

I'm not surprised since technology and design have passed by the F-117.

We know that we are not restricted to flat panel facets in order to maintain stealth. The avionics and other systems were taken from the spare parts bins of other operational aircraft in order to maintain secrecy. Undoubtedly a spring-board for the new stealth birds, but now obsolete.