aviation - the past, present and future of flight

time with their families and friends. We kept

operations slow until after the holidays, then

it was back to work, training and ensuring we

were ready if we had to deploy.

I wish I could have stayed the squadron

commander of the 9th FS ‘Flying Knights’ for

the remainder of my career. Unfortunately,

that is not allowed – the normal tour is

two years. In my case, I actually had 25

months and was happy to have the extra

time. On May 12, 1997 I  ew my last sortie

in the F-117A and, the following month, my

squadron command came to an end and I

was off once again for a year of professional

military education at the National War

College. It would be several years before I

 ew combat sorties again.

Not just the American people, but the

entire world had become aware of the value

of stealth technology and, in particular, the

role played by the F-117A.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 27

This unusually angled shot of the

F-117A provides an interesting

perspective on its stealthy shape.

Rich Cooper/COAP

22-27_f117_part_2DC.mf.mfDC.indd 27 01/12/2017 13:57