extent as had been the case in previous
operations, re ecting the number of
other stand-o weapon system options
now available to planners.A swift end...
The legendary achievements of
Lockheed’s F-117 ensure that the
aircraft’s place in military aeronautical
history is secure. But the relentless
development and application of morecomplex computer modeling and other
technologies surpassed those used in
the facet-based stealth technology of
the 1970s. Additionally, the changing
political climate and ongoing defense
spending cuts inevitably ensnared
the F-117.
The USAF originally planned to retire
the F-117 in 2011, but the platform was
maintenance-intensive. In Program
Budget Decision 720, dated Decemberthe underground bunker — situated
beneath a eld — just 50ft apart in a
square pattern, leaving much of the
earth above undisturbed. The bombs
had worked as advertised and the two
pilots each received a Distinguished
Flying Cross for an outstanding mission
executed with minimal lead times.
Unfortunately for them, the weapon’s
intended target wasn’t in residence...
On April 6, 2003, just 18 days after
the start of ‘Iraqi Freedom’, the coalition
leadership was able to declare complete
air supremacy over all Iraq. Ten days
later, the rst humanitarian relief ight
landed at Bashur air base. This action
would prove to be the Nighthawk’s
nal combat operation. In total, 82
missions had been completed, and the
EGBU-27 had become the weapon of
choice, 98 examples being dropped. It
was undoubtedly a highly successful
swansong, but the platform wasn’t used
in the 2003 Iraq campaign to the sameAbove: During
the afternoon
of October 27,
2006, 25 F-117s
performed a
mass formation
fl yby at Holloman.
Lockheed Martin
Below right:
Two F-117As
photographed as
they line up on the
Tonopah runway
in late July 2016.
The Aviationist/
Sammamishman
Below: F-117
85-0835/OT of
the 53rd Test and
Evaluation Group
was known as
the ‘Gray Ghost’
during its fi nal
years of service
as it wore a trial
camoufl age
scheme.
Jim HaseltineFEATURE ARTICLE // ‘SKUNK WORKS’ AT 75: F-117
62 June 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
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