F-117 spotted flying again!!!

[MIKE JG]

Nellis spotters video'd this lone Nighthawk out flying over the Nellis ranges back in July. Not sure why they waited till now to post it (probably had to change their names and addresses, LOL).

Anyways, short video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvyaG7EIC18

Most likely flying from TNX, Tonopah. Scenery for that base is included in the Nellis AFB package. Time for me to break the model back out and write some quick flight plans!

[MIKE JG]

Check that. After some Googling, it seems to be operating out of Groom Lake instead of Tonopah.

[jaguar1]

Great vid. Nice to see the original stealth flying!

[tango234]

What are they doing with it I wonder? Since they've been retired from USAF service...

[MIKE JG]

My guess from the things I've read around the internet is that it or they if they are flying more than one, are being used to test new radar systems against low observable platforms like the F-117.

There is a whole radar testing range out there on the Nellis ranges, I even modeled most of the radar sites as part of the Nellis package. There are Russian built systems, Chinese built systems, etc. During Red Flag exercises they will use them to "light up" Red Flag blue forces so those pilots can see what it's like to be tracked by these systems.

The U.S. can then test our latest stuff against these "acquired" foreign radar systems.

One rumor for the F-117 is that it is being tested against the new F-35 radar system which is being testflown on a Gulfstream jet that's been modified to carry it.

What better way to test the system than to fly an actual low observable aircraft against in in real world conditions.

[btaylo24]

This is interesting as well. The story goes that the USA bombed the China embassy during the Balkan war to stop them getting their hands on F117 parts from the shoot down of one ...Looks like China have their own dummy F117? Wonder what for hmmmmm

http://geimint.blogspot.com/2010/10/ima ... thawk.html

[djnocturnal]

i'm not really suprised, was sad to see them go when I was at Holloman.but the fact they were going to Tonopah made me think they were still going to be using them for something.

[btaylo24]

Iran!

[jaguar1]

Well, as this pic shows, taken in one of the original F-117 hangars at TTR, they're not all in a ready to fly condition........... what a waste, hopefully these will soar once again.


http://www.patricksaviation.com/photos/HiTop/24701/

[btaylo24]

Only 5 in that hanger ......
.....Didn't they order 59 of them. And had 52 at retirement in service?

[MIKE JG]

Rumor is that up to 5 are still in flying condition. Probably the real issue is keeping pilots qualified on them.

[Jumpshot724]

Dun dun dun....

[HorusJ]

Goes to prove "don't trust everything the government tell you".

(had to do it )

[MIKE JG]

Spotted again, this time in October of this year. This is an interesting blog on the subject:

http://aroundtherange.blogspot.com/