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F-117A Stealth Fighter Retired

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the so-freaking-cool dept.

zonker writes "Nearly 30 years ago Lockheed Martin's elite Skunk Works team developed what would become the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter. A few of their earlier projects include the SR-71 Blackbird and U2 Dragon Lady spy planes. Today is the last for the Stealth Fighter, which is being replaced by the F-22 Raptor (another Skunk Works project)."

7 of 476 comments (clear)

  1. Don't worry about it... by thewils · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sure it will retire to a nice well-paid job in the defense industry.

    --
    Once I was a four stone apology. Now I am two separate gorillas.
  2. Meanwhile... by operagost · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... after 56 years, the B-52s keep flying. No, I don't mean the band, although I do like the idea of roaming if I so desire.

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  3. Imperial assloads by sconeu · · Score: 3, Funny

    How many VW's in an imperial assload?

    Seriously, though, that's a fairly nice analysis.

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  4. Re:Fuel leaking SR-71's by myth_of_sisyphus · · Score: 5, Funny

    A good SR-71 anecdote. From "Sled Driver"

            "One day, high above Arizona, we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was. 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded.

            The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast."

  5. Re:What are they working on now? by Danse · · Score: 3, Funny

    With the improvements we've made with the unmanned craft, why build anything else? Your pilots get to stay safe out of harms way, you no longer have to degrade performance because of the limits of the human body, and you get to save money by not worrying about keeping the pilot alive. I think you're right that these remotely piloted craft are the future of combat. Combat evolved, if you will. In fact, the AF could do a lot to increase its recruiting prospects by developing the capability for these drones to teabag their opponents after defeating them. Perhaps incorporate the ability to spray a graffiti tag or spew racially insensitive invective. I know I find such tactics to be highly demoralizing and I generally go find something else to do fairly quickly.
    --
    It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
  6. Pimp my corporate priviledges. by Scrameustache · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm sure it will retire to a nice well-paid job in the defense industry. The revolving door of the military industrial congress complex: It is retiring from military service to civilian service.

    3 words: Stealth jet limo.
    The next person to make fun of Scientology gets a surprise visit from Travolta and his payload.
    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  7. Re:Fuel leaking SR-71's by Mahjub+Sa'aden · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thank you ever so much for clarifying. I feel as if the wool has lifted from my eyes... and been replaced with bricks.

    --
    What is is all that is. Isn't that obvious?