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Scale 1:42  Length 19"   Wingspan 12"

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

The Lockheed F-117A was developed in response to an Air Force request for an aircraft capable of attacking high value targets without being detected by hostile radar systems. By the 1970's special materials and techniques had become available to aircraft designers to allow them to design an aircraft with radar evading or "stealth" qualities. The result was the F-117A, the world's first operational aircraft that fully incorporated radar-evading techniques.

The first F-117A flew on June 18, 1981. The first F-117A unit - the 4450th Tactical Group - achieved operating capability in October 1983. The 4450th was renamed the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in October 1989.

The F-117A was first used in combat during operation "Just Cause"  when two F-117A's from the 37th TFW attacked military targets in Panama in 1989. The F-117A was again called into action during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91 when the 415th and the 416th squadrons of the 37th TFW moved to a base in Saudi Arabia. During Desert Storm the F-117A's flew 1,271 sorties, achieving an 80 percent mission success rate while suffering no losses or battle damage.

A total of 64 F-117A's were built between 1981 and 1990 - five for testing and 59 for operational use .

Crew:        One
Length:     66 ft
Wingspan: 43 ft
Weight:     52,500 lbs. max
Engines:    Two General Electric w/10,600 lb. thrust each
Speed:       Max = High subsonic, Cruise = 684 mph
Ceiling:      45,000 ft
Range:       Unlimited with aerial refueling
Armament: Up to 4,000 lbs of internal stores

Related Links
Global Security - F-117A