Air Force - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

F117AGuy · 04-16-2008, 01:26 PM

I'm active duty Air Force. I figured this forum would enjoy a few of the pics I have to share. As some of you may know the F-117A Stealth Fighter is officially retiring as of Monday next week. We have already sent all but just a handful to their wonderful first home of Tonopah. Of the final ones remaining until next week the Final aircraft delivered to the Air Force was painted in a special American Flag scheme on the belly. The first aircraft to wear this paint scheme was 782( actually a YF-117A) it wore this paint job twice, the last time being in 2005. So to honor the F-117A and all that is has accomplished tail number 843 was painted with an American Flag as well. I can say its been a wonderful 9 1/2 years of being a Dedicated Crew Chief on these airplanes... and am sad to see it retire. However soon I will get a new toy to play with when the first F-22's are delived to Holloman in the next few months!

The past, present and future of Holloman!

Palmguy · 04-16-2008, 01:30 PM

Awesome pics, awesome aircraft as well.

Icey101 · 04-16-2008, 01:31 PM

It is just crazy seeing F117 going...when about the same time we are retiring H53s from the Air Force very soon. Whats even weirder is seeing them look for replacements for the H60 already.

F117AGuy · 04-16-2008, 01:41 PM

I hear what you are saying Icey. Although most people don't realize that the first F-117's are well past 25 years old... In late 2006 the F-117's went over 25 years and 250,000 flight hours as a program. The 25 ship flyby was a pretty cool sight to see, since I was on leave when they did it, so I didn't have to kill myself to get the jets in the air for it!

**b52ace** · 04-16-2008, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the pics. Wonderful paint job. Got to spend a little time at Palmdale w/ the test guys. Interesting jet. Enjoy your new "toy."

Radio Relay · 04-17-2008, 12:56 AM

It doesn't seem that long ago that the F-117 was finally out in the open, and we were so impressed with it's crazy looks, and amazed by it's stealth capabilities.

I was working at the General Dynamics (then) F-16 plant in Ft. Worth, when the news about the F-117 broke. GD had it's own super secret stealth fighter project going at the time, too. It was quite impressive.

Awesome pics... Thanks!

casio02478 · 04-17-2008, 07:57 PM

Great pics! thanks

jblakk · 04-18-2008, 02:14 AM

Thanks for thoes. Great pics. Wild to think they are retiring the F-117s. But I guess thay have been around alot longer than most people realize.

LtDan · 04-20-2008, 07:42 PM

Love the pics, especially the one with all the legacy aircraft in it.

jpainter187 · 04-21-2008, 04:11 PM

Excellent pictures! I'm considering joining the Air Force myself, in order to one day become a US Marshal.

04-16-2008, 01:26 PM	#1
F117AGuy XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Holloman AFB, NM Posts: 30	Air Force I'm active duty Air Force. I figured this forum would enjoy a few of the pics I have to share. As some of you may know the F-117A Stealth Fighter is officially retiring as of Monday next week. We have already sent all but just a handful to their wonderful first home of Tonopah. Of the final ones remaining until next week the Final aircraft delivered to the Air Force was painted in a special American Flag scheme on the belly. The first aircraft to wear this paint scheme was 782( actually a YF-117A) it wore this paint job twice, the last time being in 2005. So to honor the F-117A and all that is has accomplished tail number 843 was painted with an American Flag as well. I can say its been a wonderful 9 1/2 years of being a Dedicated Crew Chief on these airplanes... and am sad to see it retire. However soon I will get a new toy to play with when the first F-22's are delived to Holloman in the next few months! The past, present and future of Holloman!

04-16-2008, 01:30 PM	#2
Palmguy XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lower Alabama Posts: 1,488	Awesome pics, awesome aircraft as well. __________________

04-16-2008, 02:01 PM	#5
b52ace XDTalk Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 39	Thanks for the pics. Wonderful paint job. Got to spend a little time at Palmdale w/ the test guys. Interesting jet. Enjoy your new "toy." __________________ "Evil prospers when good men and women do nothing" - British citizen

04-17-2008, 12:56 AM	#6
Radio Relay XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 686	It doesn't seem that long ago that the F-117 was finally out in the open, and we were so impressed with it's crazy looks, and amazed by it's stealth capabilities. I was working at the General Dynamics (then) F-16 plant in Ft. Worth, when the news about the F-117 broke. GD had it's own super secret stealth fighter project going at the time, too. It was quite impressive. Awesome pics... Thanks! __________________ "Glory is not a conceit. It is not a decoration for valor. Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely and who rely on you in return." John McCain =================== USMC 68-71, RVN 69-70 CCW Holder Springfield 9mm XDSC pistol, Beretta .32 3032 Tomcat pistol, NAA .22lr mini revolver Beretta 9mm CX-4 carbine, Marlin .22 rifle ===================

04-18-2008, 02:14 AM	#8
jblakk XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 536	Thanks for thoes. Great pics. Wild to think they are retiring the F-117s. But I guess thay have been around alot longer than most people realize. __________________ -Everything in Moderation - Including moderation -God didn't make all people equal...Colt did. - Hadalgo Taurus bi-tone PT-111 millenium(9mm) SA XD-9 with Trijicon SA XD-40sc Ruger Secutity-Six 4" Bicentenial model(.357)

04-16-2008, 01:31 PM	#3
Icey101 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 244	It is just crazy seeing F117 going...when about the same time we are retiring H53s from the Air Force very soon. Whats even weirder is seeing them look for replacements for the H60 already.

04-16-2008, 01:41 PM	#4
F117AGuy XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Holloman AFB, NM Posts: 30	I hear what you are saying Icey. Although most people don't realize that the first F-117's are well past 25 years old... In late 2006 the F-117's went over 25 years and 250,000 flight hours as a program. The 25 ship flyby was a pretty cool sight to see, since I was on leave when they did it, so I didn't have to kill myself to get the jets in the air for it!

04-17-2008, 07:57 PM	#7
casio02478 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MA Posts: 118	Great pics! thanks

04-20-2008, 07:42 PM	#9
LtDan XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 55	Love the pics, especially the one with all the legacy aircraft in it.

04-21-2008, 04:11 PM	#10
jpainter187 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 484	Excellent pictures! I'm considering joining the Air Force myself, in order to one day become a US Marshal.

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