Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

The first six F-117s to retire have been officially removed from USAF inventory. The end is near! Holloman AFB will soon be an option for everyone who want to PCS to an F-22 base. A lot of people are sad to see the stealth go, but a few of us hardcore Viper Crew Chiefs say "Good riddance". Any opinions?

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Mabjab23,

For those amongst us who do 'numbers', any chance you can tell me which jets are involved please? I know 817 and 835 are two. Any idea on the other four please? I have seen all but two of them so far with 790 (last reported with 9FS) and 811 (now at Palmdale) being my last ones. Obviously, once they go to Tonopah they are gone forever!

Do you work on the F-117? I was at Nellis last month and I think they are an awesome jet! That said however, Im not a mechanic!

Regards

Mark

I never worked them but I too am wondering why the "good riddance" comment was made?

Is this a hard jet to maintain, it did its job based on everything I read about it, more then likely it never really got the fame it might have deserved, can you folks comment about it? I'd like to learn why there is a resentment felt about it (if there is).

It is a very cool design I thought and broke the mold for design and stealth (new capabilities)...didn't it?

Can anybody provide feedback good or bad about it? I know composite wise, it was tough pulling and reinstalling some panels but I am sure it goes much further then that.

I "hosted" (helped set up a few things before I had aircraft in the 493rd) a squadron of these in route to the Gulf back in 1993 at "The Heath" but never got real close (I was too busy) but got a bit of a show and tell but that was it.

Our squadron (the soon to be re-activated 493rd FS provided shelters and equipment that were not being used yet) for these folks, good bunch of maintainers I thought, tough job they had but it looked great (least I thought so).

I assume these are some of the very early test birds that have lots of time on them, it was history in the making back then - I respect that bird and the folks that worked her but I wonder why some are glad to see them be storage.....mystery to me but I am ready to hear the stories, can you folks help explain (good and bad)...what's up?

Just to add more to MabJab23's story line, more of the same information

Air Force Times wrote:

Once-secret F-117s retiring
03/14/2007

A fighter once so secret that the Air Force kept the jets hidden from sight is now flying off to the boneyard — albeit a high-security boneyard.

On Monday, six stealth F-117 Nighthawks left Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., for storage at the Tonopah Test Range, north of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Once the jets arrive at Tonopah, the wings will be removed and the jets stored in their original hangars.

Most retired Air Force planes go to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center near Tucson, Ariz. But with some aspects of the F-117 still classified, a more secure retirement home was chosen.

By the end of the decade, all 55 of the F-117s will be retired, replaced at Holloman by the F-22A Raptor.

Before the flight, Brig. Gen. David Goldfein, commander of Holloman’s 49th Fighter Wing, commented about significance F-117.

“The Nighthawk story is truly one of vision, guts, passion, heroism, defiance and incredible risk taking,” he said. “A story both uniquely American and, I believe, uniquely Air Force.”

The first F-117 was delivered to the Air Force in 1982 and the last plane arrived in 1990.

In combat, the jets were chosen for first strikes in Operations Desert Storm, Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.

The Nighthawks were originally based at Tonopah, an airfield that has been home to many secret Air Force programs such as an aggressor squadron that flew Soviet fighters. The jets moved to Holloman in 1992.

I'm sad to see 'em go. This was the first aircraft that I can remember coming out of secrecy. Sure, there have been jets like the SR-71 before, but this was the first I can actually remember. We only ever lost one of 'em.

Sad to see her go.

Well, I crewed them for 3 years. LOVED IT! No ICT's, hot pits, AB no/slow lights, ext tank problems, ADG changes.
Has an APU, if you need hyd pressure, just light off the APU. No JFS to pump. No hydrazine and all it's associated crap. The EPU (same as 16) runs off bleed air from APU. It has a few bad things, but was a ton better than any 16.
They rarely broke for us. Avionics issues mostly. Probably gonna die of cancer in 20 years or so, but that could just be the hydrazine exposer.

The first six retirees are:
81-0795 (no official name)
80-0789 "Black Magic"
80-0790 "Deadly Jester"
85-0832 "Once Bitten"
85-0835 "The Dragon"
85-0817 "Shaba"

R.I.P.

The next two are scheduled to join these before April.

The jets aren't that bad. True there are no ADG changes, but AMAD (a mini version of an ADG on each engine) changes are almost constant. Let's not forget re-packing drag-chutes after every landing. Having to wipe-down the bottom of the jet every night with Naptha IAW tech data sucks hard too (leaving hydro fluid and oil on the skin deteriorates the RAM). Does anyone know if the 22 and the 35 require daily wipe-downs?

Quote:

We only ever lost one of 'em.

We've only lost one in combat, but there have been seven losses during the entire life of the program.

Quote:

It has a few bad things, but was a ton better than any 16.

I wouldn't go that far. Back in the day I know this jet was a breeze to work. I hear stories from the "Holloman Lifers" all the time praising "the way it used to be". True, the stealth isn't as cramped as as a 16, but the 16's smaller airframe and single engine config I think is much easier to work.

MabJab23 wrote:

The first six retirees are:
81-0795 (no official name)
80-0789 "Black Magic"
80-0790 "Deadly Jester"
85-0832 "Once Bitten"
85-0835 "The Dragon"
85-0817 "Shaba"

http://luckypuppy.bravehost.com/MADDOGJET/117art.html

Shaba logo is very cool I think...great stuff there buddy

For the Record...

I saw 2 AMAD changes in 3 years, must be showing there age. Wipe downs aren't all that bad and I had one of the leakiest one's in the fleet. Could always tell when 807 was in the pattern by the sudden shower of oil. Never did find the leak. Removing hydraulic lines is a nightmare. Swedges seem to be a Lockheed love affair as he C-5 is just as bad. Some one needs to introduce Lockheed to these new fangled items called B-nuts. 790 and 835 I'll agree with the good riddens. Pigs both of 'em. Along with 786, 794 and 821.

MabJab23 wrote:

We've only lost one in combat, but there have been seven losses during the entire life of the program.

Thanks for the correction Smile

. I know about the other losses and I should've specified one combat loss.

Here are the bay art pics for the other retirees. Also "Unexpected Guest" is the art for aircraft 803 which is due to retire next week. Also leaving next week is aircraft 820. I don't have good info in front of me right now, but I think it's a 85-XXXX or 86-XXXX series. I'll post it later. 820 has no name or bay art.

0803 is FY 82 and 0820 is FY85.

Regards

Mark (wearing a black armband with the withdrawal of 790!)

Thanks for the details, MabJab23!

Related USAF news story: <a href="http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123044456">F-117A retirement bittersweet occasion</a>

<a href="http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123044456">Related USAF photos</a>

I saw two Nighthawks at the ILA Berlin Airshow 2000. Very Happy

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

First six F-117s sent to Tonopah "Boneyard"