Yup, thats right you heard it right. The USAF is getting rid of and retiring all F-117's, B-52's, C-21's, U-2's for more F-22 Raptors!!!!!!!

All Stealths, Stratofortress's, etc will be OUT of the USAF by 2009!.

For more info:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=f-117+%2Bretire

Just read around!!!

Yup, thats right you heard it right. The USAF is getting rid of and retiring all F-117's, B-52's, C-21's, U-2's for more F-22 Raptors!!!!!!!

All Stealths, Stratofortress's, etc will be OUT of the USAF by 2009!.

No not quite...the article states that yes, USAF will be retiring all -117's and U-2's however only 38 of 76 C-21's and only 40% of the B-52 fleet.

Nevertheless it is clear that the F/A-22 will in fact be able to do the job faster and better than those aircraft being completly phased out.

Scooter

still, for every 100+ million dollar project per unit of the F-117/U-2 and only alittle over 10 years of service in pure secrecy is just too fast! give the bomber some time cause it was a beast in Desert Storm!

Tailhook,

Take a look at the a/c transitions from the late 40's to mid to late 60's ....dozens and dozens of a/c in and out of the service. The USAF cannot and will not remain stagnant with certain technologies. Buffs are a great example of the USA getting its dollars worth and most of the Buffs that are getting phased out are so old that the structural integrity of the bird just doesnt along it to fly anymore (SLEP...or Service life extension program just wont continue) whereas the F117 is late 70's technology bro and its time to move on since we have a far better replacement. In fact the F22 is replacing alot of the F15's and all the F117's is even better. Kills 2 birds with one stone.

Also, with the buffs...I think overal we have given that bomber plenty of "time" as you talked about.....you can only give that bird so many blood transfusions (upgrades), trust me...I continue to work and fly with 40 year old helicopters....talk about OLD. Finally, dont get stuck on how great the bird did in the gulf and things like that Tailhook. Thats great but if a better replacement comes along its time to move on. i.e. F-22 replacing the f117 and the B-2's/B-1's slowly replacing the B-52's (although they arent making anymore b-2's but that is another story.)

Cost-effectiveness ratio and man-hours per flight hour as well as suitable technology for the role at hand are just a few factors that determine retiring an airframe and/or replacing it. It's only a matter of time before most wars are fought without pilots actually in the fighters...

All part of evolution and the F-22 is currently what's forcing other birds out of the skies. Literally and figuratively speaking!

Yea, the -117 can only carry 2 LGBs. I believe the Raptor has about the same Radar Cross Reference of the -117, and can carry a helluva lot more. Plus, why send a squadron of F-117's when you can send 1 B-2?

EDIT: Now that I think about it, the F-22, F-35, and the F/A-18 E/F/G will probably in all likelyhood be the last manned fighters that the US will ever produce!

Rhino wrote:Yea, the -117 can only carry 2 LGBs. I believe the Raptor has about the same Radar Cross Reference of the -117, and can carry a helluva lot more. Plus, why send a squadron of F-117's when you can send 1 B-2?

umm. #1 the F-117 is in pure secrecy to enemy radar and the B-2 is detectable. #2 F-117 does only carry 2 bombs in a bay for that reason. #3 F-22 can only carry 2 small smart bombs and 2 fuel tanks on its wings, but they are coming up with a multi-weapon pylon holder for 2 of each small JDAM...there might be more but I cant think of any

Viper101 wrote:the B-2 is detectable

Maybe in some little Flight Simulation of yours, but sorry, no. If the B-2 was detectable, there would have been about 4 of them laying on the ground all crumpled up the night "Shock and Awe" began in Baghdad.

Yes you are right when you say the F-22 can only carry two bombs now, but they are not small, being 1,000 LB JDAMs. In all reality as well, LGBs are probably going out the door, as we can now use GPS to get stuff done with the JDAMS, and not have to fool around lasing something before dropping. Just get the GPS coordinates, punch them in the weapons systems, fly the path the computer tells you to, and the bombs auto-release.

With that said, also remember, that the F-22 can go maybe 3x as fast as the F-117. Yes, we will all miss the Nighthawk, but its time is up.

Rhino wrote:

Viper101 wrote:the B-2 is detectable

Yes you are right when you say the F-22 can only carry two bombs now, but they are not small, being 1,000 LB JDAMs.

Where you read it will carry 1,000 LB JDAM's? I'm just curious because from what I saw and looked at the pylon racks closely and looked like it couldnt support something of that.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... eapons.htm

A good source of info is globalsecurity.org
You might find some answers there as well as other info regarding stealth and other weapons systems.

the F/A-18 E/F/G will probably in all likelyhood be the last manned fighters that the US will ever produce!

Huh? What? F/A-18 Who? Hey I'm fine with that
Pluss with the new radar going into the hornet, it's has yet another "blood transfusion" coming it's way".

If you haven't read, the F/A-18A-G project will shut down by 2012 and go right to the F-35.

Yes, they will stop PRODUCING THEM, but not stop using them. They will likely use them for more than 20-30 years.

As long as there a hornets in the sky, I'm happy. The tomcat reminds me of old people, classical music, some people just gotta move on...

I haven't heard anybody explain why they dis-like the hornet and prefer the tomcat. Viper, please explain.

As far as B2 detectability is concerned, rumour has it that the Aussie developed Jindalee OTHR (over the horizon radar) system can indeed detect the B2 and any other stealth aircraft. It does this by detecting the turbulence created by the passage of the aircraft.