Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
Lockheed Skunk Works · United States · first flew 1981 · bomber
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was the world's first operational stealth aircraft, using faceted angular surfaces to scatter radar energy and reduce its cross-section to near-invisibility. Despite its fighter designation it was strictly a precision attack aircraft carrying no gun or air-to-air weapons.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 20.09 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Faceted angular stealth airframe with no curved surfaces
- V-tail with outward-canted fins
- Screened engine exhausts to suppress infrared signature
The faceted diamond-shaped fuselage, delta-like swept wing blending into the body, outward-canted V-tail, and completely flat undersurface make it unmistakable. No other production aircraft shares this multi-faceted geometry.
Specifications
- The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk has a length of 20.09 m (66 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.21 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 993 km/h (617 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in deep secrecy at Lockheed's Skunk Works facility, the F-117 was based on stealth research demonstrators and flew covertly from 1981 until its public disclosure in 1988. It saw combat in Panama (1989), the Gulf War (1991), and Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia (1999).
Variants
No production variants were built; the lone Have Blue demonstrators that preceded it were smaller and distinct. A small number of F-117s were retained in flyable storage after official retirement in 2008.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the USAF 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB; formally retired in 2008 though a small fleet was maintained in flyable storage for test and adversary roles.
Related aircraft
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