The Retired F-117A Nighthawk Is Doing...Something...in the Desert

Popular Mechanics ^ | July 15, 2019 | Kyle Mizokami

[C19fan]

The F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter, the world’s first purpose-designed stealth aircraft, was recently sighted high in the skies over Death Valley, California. The fighter, part of a fleet of jets retired in 2008, was sporting a brand new camouflage paint job and accompanied by a NASA jet and aerial refueling tanker. What was it doing? That’s anyone’s guess.

[C19fan]

I am not saying it was aliens.....When Area 51 is stormed on September 20 we shall find out.

[BenLurkin]

ooselay ipslay

[NRx]

[HombreSecreto]

Always aliens! :-)

But if you wanted to have some stealthy OPFOR aircraft, why not use some of these? Obviously the F117 isn’t a dogfighter but to train against a stealthy strike aircraft, why not?

[Portcall24]

“Wobblin Goblin” continues to fly.

[Vermont Lt]

It was “seen” there. But was it “really” there?

Will we ever know?

Cue the Aliens guy and George Noory.

[Delta 21]

We retired an entire fleet of invisible airplanes?

[pfflier]

The presence of an unidentified “podded sensor” on the F-15 might be a clue the service is testing a new sensor designed to pick up stealth aircraft. The “aggressor” paint job could also be a sign the Nighthawk is being used as a stand-in for Russian and Chinese fighter planes.

That pretty much lets the cat out of the bag. The US is working hard to catch up with the Russians with IR sensors.

[mountainlion]

So maybe they are developing below sea level fueling procedures.

[FtrPilot]

My guess is they are being converted into drones for air-to-air and surface-to-air missile testing.

Can an F-22 shoot down a stealth aircraft? Certainly would be nice to know.

[devane617]

There is ONLY one sky. The use of the work skies bugs me. Ok, I feel better.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[bigbob]

Lol, a radio station program manager corrected me on that when I was a weekend DJ during college and I’ve never forgotten it. It’s a small thing, but his point was to communicate precisely, which is a much bigger lesson.

“Under a clear sky, it’s 90 degrees!”

[highpockets]

Because the Russians have S200,00,00,00 super secret IR missile that defies the laws of physics. The Russians always have the best equipment. Hey remember the last time our military attacked a country full of all this super secret technology that the Russians have and they stop the attack as a result of their brilliance? Yeah, me neither

[100American]

Just a guess...

Flying

[HighSierra5]

I saw a B-2 being Refueled by a KC-135 the other day at about about 25,000 ft above my house. It probably was out of Edwards. I’ve seen U-2s and other experimental aircraft. One of the coolest scene was a U-2 flying in close formation with an old B-25. Must have been a memorial flight or something. I feel fortunate to be able to witness these aircraft.

[pfflier]

Because the Russians have S200,00,00,00 super secret IR missile that defies the laws of physics.

This is not missile seekers or even missile technology. This is passive IR that is as capable as radar for targeting and engagement without the emissions.

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/irst21-sensor-system.html

"...super secret technology that the Russians have and they stop the attack as a result of their brilliance? Yeah, me neither

Seems I heard that before about the Mig-15, Mig-21 and SA2. My father heard that about the Zero in WWII.

[headstamp 2]

“A shark with a laser beam on its head on each wing pylon”

[OKSooner]

What happens on September 20th? Tryin’ to figure that one out...

[blueunicorn6]

It’s retired?

Then it’s probably flying around telling kids to get off the lawn.

“You kids get off my lawn or I’ll drop a bomb on you!”

I say that three or four times a day.