F-117 Death valley

[Micky S]

Noticed from some Twitter feeds that the Nighthawk has been out and about again around Area 51. Still looks like something from the future.

[dicanio]

https://combataircraft.keypublishing.co ... hotos-yet/

[The Phantom]

Yes - still looks amazing

[Photogenius]

Probably still being used to test new radars as the 117 is still probably one of the most low observable aircraft out there.

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

https://fightersweep.com/12111/watch-f- ... this-week/
Looks very nice!!

[garyscott]

They will fly one every now and again, its to verify that the mothballing process is still viable, as the air-frames have to be maintained in a 'returnable to service' condition, although the number is dwindling. They will either pick an air-frame at random - or a specific one if needed, and go through a shake down flight ensuring the nav systems haven't degraded, general air-frame condition through maneuvering flight, engines and hydraulics under load. After that, it will either have a further proof flight if something needs to be verified, or be returned to storage. This will happen anywhere from 3 to 8 times a year.

[PeteHemsley]

They will fly one every now and again, its to verify that the mothballing process is still viable, as the air-frames have to be maintained in a 'returnable to service' condition, although the number is dwindling. They will either pick an air-frame at random - or a specific one if needed, and go through a shake down flight ensuring the nav systems haven't degraded, general air-frame condition through maneuvering flight, engines and hydraulics under load. After that, it will either have a further proof flight if something needs to be verified, or be returned to storage. This will happen anywhere from 3 to 8 times a year.

If that was the case, why use an f-117 when they have thousands of 'mothballed' aircraft wrapped up in the desert sun?

I think everyone can pretty much figure out that these aircraft still flying has nothing to do with mothballing.

[Thunder]

I think Gary is referring to the F117 mothballing only not mothballing as a whole, after all why would you test flight a F16 to prove systems on another type?

[Tim Holden]

RIAT please! ....... Sadly very unlikely.

[Yunglee]

Being reported on the Scramble Magazine Facebook page that F-117's have been "deployed to the Middle East as an operational need emerged for the USAF to resurrect the Stealth F-117 for special purposes"!

"A quote from our friend Dan Stijovich "26 and 27 February 2019, a memorable couple days to say the least..."
On these day's Dan was able to shoot multiple footage from flying Lockheed F-117A Nighthawks above Death Valley National Park (CA).
Ever since some fifty F-117As were retired from active duty in 2008, Nighthawk test-flying had been observed more often in the surroundings of Nevada's Tonopah Test Range Airport, also known as Groom Lake or Area 51. The second half of 2016, the USAF revealed multiple Nighthawk sorties during daylight and even formation flying was witnessed.
**** Scramble scoop ****
Back in 2017, and not publiced by any other source so far, Scramble received very reliable information that at least four F-117s were deployed to the Middle East as an operational need emerged for the USAF to resurrect the Stealth F-117 for special purposes. One of the deployed aircraft was involved in an in-flight emergency and landed far away from its temporary homebase that was likely located in Saudi Arabia, the UAE or Qatar.
During this extremely covert deployment the four Nighthawks flew missions above Syria an Iraq with Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs).
****
For now, with the vanishing of most terrorists (IS) from Iraqi an Syrian territory, it seems that the USAF has found, again, an opportunity to show the Nighthawk in the open. Check the pilot in a very comfortable position in his cockpit! Knowing he and his fantastic aircraft were watched and photographed by very lucky people!
The past February days, the Nighthawks were flying openly above Death Valley with a LEHI call sign. On 26 February, F-117A with serial number 84-0824 and vague '49OG' flagship markings (Former 49th Operation Group), was working the flats at Panamint, Death Valley, with two F-16 chase planes at a height of 200ft.
Hopefully, more information will be available in the near future."

Credit Scramble Magazine Facebook page

[garyscott]

They will fly one every now and again, its to verify that the mothballing process is still viable, as the air-frames have to be maintained in a 'returnable to service' condition, although the number is dwindling. They will either pick an air-frame at random - or a specific one if needed, and go through a shake down flight ensuring the nav systems haven't degraded, general air-frame condition through maneuvering flight, engines and hydraulics under load. After that, it will either have a further proof flight if something needs to be verified, or be returned to storage. This will happen anywhere from 3 to 8 times a year.

If that was the case, why use an f-117 when they have thousands of 'mothballed' aircraft wrapped up in the desert sun?

Hi Pete, when the F-117 were retired, it was a condition of the retirement that the aircraft - as many as possible - were to be maintained in a storable condition such that they can be pressed back into service should the need arise. The sporadic flights are to verify that the process is still working, and that the aircraft are still viable. At least two of them have been noted near Groom, supposedly in support of testing that the F-117 has some bearing on, or at least its unique capabilities. But for the whole, the flights are very much solely verification flights to check the validity of the storage process itself.

[Supra]

To quote from the Combat Aircraft article linked above.....The F-117s are officially being kept in Type 1000 storage, indicating that they are maintained in a status from which they could be recalled to active service, should the need arise. Type 1000 aircraft are termed ‘inviolate’, meaning they have a high potential to return to flying status and no parts may be removed from them. The USAF states that the aircraft can be reactivated within 30 to 120 days depending upon how long the particular aircraft has been in storage.
This testing & flight-exercising in no way requires 2 x F-16 wingmen, therefore it's highly likely that the flight combination allows testing of radar cloaking the F-117 from airborne or ground-based tracking equipment. Remember the B2 also requires F-15 escorts over the UK to make the B2 routing visible to radar . Same thing for Pigs that might fly!

[tm74sqn]

Presumably the F-35 has an on/off switch for non-stealth mode?

[Agent K]

Presumably the F-35 has an on/off switch for non-stealth mode?

[macref]

Remember getting the shock of my life as an 8 or 9 year old living on the Waddington approach when I heard a rumble one late afternoon and looked up to see one of these over the house, probably 1993/94ish.

Still not sure I was meant to see it....the American chap who lived over the road didn't let much on!

[Cavemonster]

I hope that Scramble - or someone - give us some more on the alleged use in Syria.

I had a bit of a surprise last year when sat on the beach in Abu Dhabi to hear NIGHT01 check in (have seen NIGHT17 4 years ago at Tonopah Teat Range). It even showed on FR24 from Syria-ish to Al Dhafra.

NIGHT01 Is apparently an Aussie A330 tanker.

[Nighthawke]

Remember getting the shock of my life as an 8 or 9 year old living on the Waddington approach when I heard a rumble one late afternoon and looked up to see one of these over the house, probably 1993/94ish.

Still not sure I was meant to see it....the American chap who lived over the road didn't let much on!

Probably 1995 for the Waddington Airshow - 2 were on display. Mildenhall had one on show in 1992.

[Thunder]

June 1993, 8 F-117’s deployed to Gilze Rijen under Coronet Havoc to take part in the Central Enterprise Ex, During this period the -117’s conducted PDA’s at several bases in the East of England including Waddington if I remember correctly.

[Vulcanone]

Nighthawke

I am certain it was 1993, as several jets on deployment to Holland (or Lakenheath) from Memeory, did overshoots at Coningsby Waddington and a couple of other bases late afternoon over a day or so.

[macref]

June 93 sounds very plausible. I would have been too old (well, 10 lol!) in 1995.