• USAF getting ready to retire the F-117

Posted: **Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:47 pm**

The AF is getting ready to retire the F-117...Here is a link from AF.MIL on a story about the history of this aircraft. Enjoy.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123030185

Falcon56

Posted: **Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:57 pm**

What!!!!

I still think of the F-117 as a NEW fighter. I was also shocked recently when I heard the Navy was retiring the F-14. Guess I'm getting old!

Posted: **Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:07 pm**

The stealth has been around for 25 plus years.. thats the tiem we only know about it.. Remember the Have Blue program...I was reading an article in my Combat Aircraft magazine that says by 2008 that all F-117s will be retired... But who knows what will happen..Congress has been trynig to get rid of for years theB-52 and its still going strong...Only time will tell....

Sucks about the F-14... I was and still am a big fan of that jet...It will be missed..

Posted: **Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:28 pm**

If i dont remember, i posted the same deal here-

http://www.virtualthunderbirds.com/foru ... php?t=1281

Posted: **Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:58 am**

The link to the article im talking about is from a week or two ago from the AF.mil website...Not trying to create a fuss..

Posted: **Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:28 pm**

The F-117 is a very old bomber based on very primative radar stealth concepts. The F-117 relies on an electro-optical bombing system which during the Gulf War was state of the art, but these days with GPS guidance is obsolete. Anything the F-117 can do the F/A-22 and F/A-35 can do better and faster, period.

Posted: **Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:11 pm**

Burner,

Copy that and then some...out with the old and in with the new.. While I have A LOT of respect for old aircraft it will be impressive to see what the new generation of fighters can do... I believe the Stealth program began in the lates 70's..between 77 and 79...

falcon56