F-117 "decommissioned" again take off in the US: experts wonder about the reasons

The network has new shots that show the flight of tactical strike aircraft F-117. We are talking about the flight of American aircraft over Nevada - in the vicinity of the Tonop air base.

YouTube frame / Ian Metson

Personnel attract attention primarily due to the fact that the F-117 Night Hawk was withdrawn from service by the U.S. Navy back in the 2008 year. Then, the fifth-generation F-117 fighter was replaced by the "decommissioned" F-22.

Against this background, the American media are actively discussing information that, in fact, the US Air Force continues to use individual F-117s in military operations. So, the publication The Aviationist says that there is evidence of the use of these attack aircraft during coalition operations in Syria and Iraq. Indicated by the year of use - 2017.

The Pentagon has not officially confirmed this information. And US military experts are wondering about the reasons for doing "flight exercises":

If the F-117 is not used in any military operations and is not planned for use, then for what purpose does the command issue orders to conduct flights?

The flight, as noted in the video, took place recently - October 8 2019 of the year. It is a pair of flights with alphanumeric codes NIGHT17 and NIGHT21.

Meanwhile, the United States suggested that the U.S. military command was about to transfer these attack planes to Europe. In particular, an opinion is expressed regarding the possibility of the F-117A being flown to the UK airbase.

The US military department does not comment on the appointment of training flights on officially withdrawn planes from the US Air Force.

Comments

[Nycomed]

"Then the "decommissioned" F-117s were replaced by fifth-generation fighters F-22."
And how can a fighter of gaining air supremacy come to replace a bomber?

[NEOZ]

Quote: Nycomed

And how can a fighter of gaining air supremacy come to replace a bomber?

and this is a good question! .... perhaps F22 should have been used as a fighter-bomber ...

[parkello]

actually f-22 was created as a fighter for gaining dominance. as a bomber, he can hardly justify such a function. inside the fuselage are placed max 6-8 missiles, and even those explosives. then the bombs should hang on the pylons outside ... but in this case he will lose maneuverability and invisibility. Replace f -117 well does not work. for this they can use f-35 and only in beast mode, when bombs are hung on pylons under the wings, and then .. he is not able to replace a full-fledged bomber. restrictions on take-off weight. if they said that F-15 .. then I would willingly believe (even) but not f-22

[NEXUS]

Quote: NEOZ

perhaps the F22 was to be used as a fighter-bomber ...

The lizard was originally conceived, at the project stage, and then created as a highly specialized fighter to gain air supremacy. It was not multi-purpose, such as SU-57.

[certero]

F-117 contains a lot of secrets. I remember how all the time they wrote that he flies what kind of iron, and then just before the cancellation they showed shots where he performs aerobatics without problems.

[Avis-bis]

Quote: certero

Performs aerobatics without any problems.

What kind? Don’t share the link?

[dauria]

I remember how all the time they wrote that he was flying what iron

The wing load is 289 kg per square meter, the thrust-weight ratio is 0,46, quality 4. Lateral and longitudinal stability is possible only due to self-propelled guns. Not an iron, but not a fighter. But do not twist aerobatics if strength allows.
The first pancake is lumpy, everything is in favor of a small ESR. Although the detection range was reduced by 2 and a half times compared to the classics of the F-15 type. Yes, only 63 of them were made together with experienced ones. Do not throw it away. Ours usually made targets out of obsolete. And this one will come in handy for something. Check the air defense, shoot the movie "Capture-3".

[Tsoy]

Not an iron, but not a fighter.

Was he once a fighter?

And this one is useful for something.

Last time, F117 was seen in July in the coloring of the Aggressor squadron. Apparently used for training to detect stealth aircraft.

[dauria]

Was he once a fighter?

Of course not. There was not even an OPS radar. Something like a fighter-bomber for ours. Like the MiG-27 or theirs A-7. With such aerodynamic quality, neither speed nor range is decent. Yes, they themselves seemed to have a poor idea of ​​what exactly could be obtained and how to find the "golden mean". But everyone has trodden the way, you can't take that away. The F-35 is already setting fashion for 30 years ahead.

[Mar.Tirah]

Quote: dauria

And this one will come in handy for something. Check the air defense, shoot the movie "Capture-3".

They did their dirty deed over Yugoslavia. And they experienced their stealth by the outdated S-125 air defense system of the SFRY. The truth was called in the State Department this defeat-loss. Often they would have lost it.

[Topgun]

Well, it’s kind of like fighters (he’s not a fighter, by the way) they are specially designed NOT stable - the more stability is not, the better the maneuverability
respectively, now EVERYONE is flying "with the help of computers" which compensate for instability ...

[SHOPPING MALL]

And they can check how such a specific technique behaves after prolonged storage. For example, they check the quality of the stealth coating after storage, and study the effect of time and the environment on it.

[Cut Samshitov]

Perhaps they are preparing a "light" option to sell "cheaper" invisible "invisible" to allies, who do not have enough money for f 35.

[OlezhkaKravchenko]

So, Russian scientists began to return to their homeland, and now nothing worthwhile appears in the United States

[Prisoner]

With our school education, soon and we will not have decent scientists.

[hydrox]

Don’t worry, a significant move has begun: already (maybe) even in the year 20 tests on the Russian language will be canceled, but Putin asked the infamous from the Ministry of Education uncomfortable questions about the undergraduate and graduate programs from the Bologna process, seeing that the Ministry of Education almost stopped releasing raw materials and blanks for the production of engineers ...

[aiden]

And because of this, our shkolota every year takes prizes at international competitions in physics, chemistry, programming, and so on. And most often the first places. It’s just not clear that everyone writes no education, but there are results. Paradox however

[Prisoner]

These winners in their vast majority do not do weather, as practice shows.

[Tsoy]

Magazines, such magazines ...

F117 has been flying continuously since it was written off. I don’t know where the data comes from that is involved in military operations, but its flights take place as part of research work for avionics and radar detection equipment. And as part of NASA's programs, he was also driven. And tested new equipment for B2 and F35. What a dumb desire to give birth to sensation out of the blue?

[hydrox]

Doesn't such pulling out of junk from landfills mean against the background of more frequent absolutely stupid failures of "fushek-35" in the most innocuous situations, as happened the other day in Japan, when the Tu-160, folding its wings and turning on the afterburner, left the "fushek" as a standing ? Isn't that a shame for a fighter, whatever class it might be?

[surf dude]

This is really a failure, one has 2,2 official speed, the other 1,9. Brand the shame on the American aggressor !!!

[hydrox]

The shameful cock only had to flap its wings and shout "Ku-ka-ra-cha ...!" after the offender Swan ...

[surf dude]

What a wonderful set of stamps do you have; whose production;)?

[surf dude]

And who are all these people, well, who delayed and whom delayed? Is it your idols, or is it that simple?

[hydrox]

"So simple" happens only with the liberda, and then only until the end of the period during which this cannibal is in power, but the liberda's power once ends, and the liberda falls under investigation, and then at the expense (if it does not have time to escape with stolen).

[surf dude]

You are absolutely right.

[Volodin]

Quote: Choi

What a dumb desire to give birth to sensation out of the blue?

A strange reaction ... The Americans do not seem to be trying to "give birth to a sensation", but, reporting on the next use of these aircraft, they ask a simple question first of all to the command: if the F-117s are in demand (for NASA, for testing the F-35 equipment), then why they are listed "outside the US Air Force park".

[Thunderbolt]

Quote: Volodin

if F-117s are in demand (for NASA, for tests of F-35 equipment), then why are they listed "outside the US Air Force fleet"

Because in the combat strength they would have been assigned a staff of pilots and technicians, and since they are in storage, but in an airworthy condition, then they take off for themselves as needed. Although the US Air Force is a rich "organization", it cannot afford to keep the "extra" air wing on its balance sheet. I will assume that the pilot program is funded and conducted by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with other American firms.

[IL-18]

Quote: Choi

desire to give birth to sensation out of the blue?

Sometimes the Tu-144 flies

[Pavel57]

Change of world view.

[cniza]

If the F-117 is not used in any military operations and is not planned for use, then for what purpose does the command issue orders to conduct flights?

Run in reserve ... preparing adversaries.

[Avior]

They simply support flight readiness and crew skills.
Well, control flights, essno.
They wrote off in my opinion this is not the right word. write off for disassembly or sale as substandard.
And here the planes remain in flight suitability.
Transferred to storage-more correctly.

[knn54]

Sergey, to the point. The Pentagon allocates money for maintenance - aircraft are stored in climate-controlled hangars, technicians monitor the stealth coverage. Pilots continue to fly on them.
-With the F-117, they test a new infrared target detection / tracking system.
-Training goal: "train" other fighters to be invisible.
-Testing air defense systems.
Judging because F-117 was observed in Nevada, accompanied by a pair of F-16s, it would be possible to coordinate their interaction

[Ka-52]

Sergey, to the point. The Pentagon allocates money for maintenance - aircraft are stored in climate-controlled hangars, technicians monitor the stealth coverage.

don't write a gag

[Ka-52]

Avior (Sergey) Today, 08: 55
Just maintain flight readiness and crew skills

stupid thing. Flights do not support flight readiness. And they and we have the same storage principle of AT. There are two periods - short and long. Short-term here is also called mobilization reserve. IAO is carried out by IAS aircraft parts or storage base. There are maintenance and inspection regulations. Read the instructions on NIAO.
As for the crews - if the AT is taken out of the state, then it has no crews. And there is no one to support the skills. And flying once a year and even less often will hardly provide the tone of reflexes.
Therefore, I believe that these flights indicate the removal of several machines from storage to perform some specific tasks.

[hydrox]

I think this is hysterical: on the one hand, it would be necessary to ensure patrolling of the occupied zone of oil fields in Syria, and on the other hand, to provide an air superiority in LIKE YOUR zone :: but after all, "evil" Russia can aggravate air situation and it would be necessary for the active Su-35 to show something, even remotely similar to aircraft.
But how scary it is - to expose junk against Russian combat aircraft - after all, the Russians can perceive this as a mockery of the Aerospace Forces and simply provoking the pilots to press the "Start" button!

[Avior]

Did they also remove the crews from storage? Judging by the reports, they periodically fly.

[askort154]

Personnel attract attention primarily due to the fact that the F-117 Night Hawk was withdrawn from service with the U.S. Navy back in 2008.

They were removed from service, but not written off. And to maintain airworthiness, aircraft that are "laid up" must be "flown" after a specified time.

[Ka-52]

standing "on the hook", you need to "fly around", after a set time

I wonder on the basis of what this conclusion is made? Computer games? hehe
for a seed of "analytical thinking" I will throw in an introductory - there are no pilots in the ITS reserve bases. And in the case of Davis Monten, there are only civilian personnel.

[askort154]

[Ka-52 ..... andit is interesting on the basis of what this conclusion is made? Computer games? hehe

When the aircraft is decommissioned, but having a resource for the airframe, it is preserved and after the period established by the manufacturer (3-5 .. or more years), it is reactivated and "flown" according to the established program. After which the certificate of airworthiness of the given
Sun. If the aircraft operator has no views on its further operation (it is not advisable), then the aircraft glider is decommissioned, and the engines or other units with a resource can be removed from it for further operation.
I had to fly over such aircraft, not on a "computer".

[Ka-52]

When the aircraft is decommissioned, but having a resource for the airframe, it is preserved and after the period established by the manufacturer (3-5 .. or more years), it is reactivated and "flown" according to the established program. After which the certificate of airworthiness of the given

what you write about is not found in the NIAO, nor in the ATSS Manual, nor in the instructions for storing AT in reserve, or in the FAP. Where did you fly around the equipment?

[Tsoy]

Quote: Ka-52

And in the case of Davis-Montin, so there are generally only civilian personnel

That is yes. That's just F117 not written off to Davis-Monten. They were demobilized at the Tonop test airfield. And stored in separate hangars.

[Ka-52]

That is yes. That's just the F117 was not written off to Davis Monten. They were demobilized at the Tonop test airfield. And stored in separate hangars

You are 20 years old wrong with the place of their base.

[rocket757]

Aircraft is SHOULD USE or SUMMER NOT SUITABLE! There were no other criteria.

[askort154]

rocket757 .....Airplane is SHOULD GOOD or SUMMER NOT SUITABLE! There were no other criteria.

I already answered above.

[rocket757]

It is clear, therefore, they fly because they are fit for flight.
Whether they are needed, not needed, correspond to something there or not, they themselves decide it. We have nothing to guess with.

[askort154]

rocket757 .......because they fly, which are fit for flight ..... We have nothing to guess with.

The Americans themselves are guessing in sathya.
If the F-117 is not used in any military operations and is not planned for use, then for what purpose does the command issue orders to conduct flights?

Here I am in a virtual answer to them, and I did not rule out such an option. What if they are in 2008? removed from service, and this time was not exploited (11 years and probably were mothballed), then it is possible these flights were performed to extend the airworthiness after mothballing.

[rocket757]

Quote: askort154

perhaps these flights were performed to extend the airworthiness after mothballing.

extended airworthiness ... and then what? Combat use ???

[askort154]

rocket757 ..... Flight validity extended ... and then what? Combat use ???

"The plane confirmed" that it is ready for further operation!
Further problems of the operator. You want to arm me, you want pilots to train, you want to sell, etc.

[rocket757]

Options, options ... however, the Yankees, guys are not a miss, in the sense of sell.

[Ros 56]

And who is the author of this opus, or another sketch of a fan.

[Old26]

Quote: Choi

Was he once a fighter?

The mere fact that he had the designation F-117 suggests that he was classified as a fighter ...

[dauria]

The mere fact that he had the designation F-117 suggests that he was classified as a fighter ..

F-111. - which fighter? A-4 - What is a stormtrooper without armor? They sometimes have that either "between classes", or does not correspond at all. And the F-117 did not have a locator. For the 80s-90s, an airplane without an OPS radar is no longer a fighter.

[Tsoy]

Quote: Old26

The mere fact that he had the designation F-117 suggests that he was classified as a fighter ...

Well this is an old and famous story. It seems like the letter F was given to maintain secrecy.

[voyaka uh]

F-117 on the statistics of the ratio of training flights and sorties was among the most
effective US military aircraft. Like an F-4 Phantom.
Fully justified creation costs.

[Ka-52]

F-117 on the statistics of the ratio of training flights and sorties was among the most
effective US military aircraft. Like an F-4 Phantom.
Fully justified creation costs.

owl on the globe, not efficiency

[rotmistr60]

Quote: Choi
What a dumb desire to give birth to sensation out of the blue?

I ask you to pay attention to the fact that this is not with us, but in the American media they raised this issue

The American media are actively discussing information that, in fact, the US Air Force continues to use individual F-117s during combat operations

Therefore, your indignation is not appropriate.

[Berkut24]

Perhaps they are trying to partially temporarily compensate for the shortage of aircraft in the Air Force.

[Bare]

Super modern American shit at the time of 1999 in Yugoslavia was shot down by a missile of the "Stone Ax" air defense system born in 1963 in the USSR from the first launch
Glory to Russian weapons! Uraaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!

[Ka-52]

Super modern American shit at the time of 1999 in Yugoslavia was shot down by a missile of the "Stone Ax" air defense system born in 1963 in the USSR from the first launch lol
Glory to Russian weapons! Uraaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!! drinks soldier

you are wrong, not 1963, but 1961. the year of birth. In 1963, the 5V27 was already born, 10 km further flying than its predecessor 5V24, which was fired by the "Neva" of the 3rd battalion of the SFY air defense brigade

[Azazelo]

F35 is so bad ....

[Klingon]

Quote: certero

F-117 contains a lot of secrets. I remember how all the time they wrote that he flies what kind of iron, and then just before the cancellation they showed shots where he performs aerobatics without problems.

its faceted faceted shape determines disgusting aerodynamics, it is unstable in pitch and yaw therefore the wing has a complex structure and the flight is controlled by the EMF

[Town Hall]

Quote: Klingon

flight is controlled by emf

And which 40 military aircraft built in recent years are aerodynamically stable and are not controlled by the EMF?

[sharp-lad]

Perhaps training machines. Combat units are specially made not "stable" and are controlled by EDSU, since a person is simply not able to react with the required speed and accuracy.

[Town Hall]

That's it. And the comrade above for some reason writes these characteristics to the shortcomings of the Night Hawk

[Klingon]

Quote: Town Hall

Quote: Klingon

flight is controlled by emf

And which 40 military aircraft built in recent years are aerodynamically stable and are not controlled by the EMF?

gliders

[Ehanatone]

What is mysterious - this bomber was originally intended to break through air defense! ...
Its operation is quite expensive, ...
The only decent air defense of the especially favorite partners of the FSA is us and China, ...
But they will stick in there, it is necessary to smoke too much of something, well, it’s very very picky, all that remains is the democratic bombing in:
Venezuela, DPRK, Iran and, and, ...
Maybe Cuba ...
Syria, thanks to wobble, they are already hammering normally ...
Maybe I missed something, but I want to remind you that during the bombing of Libya, it was used fu 117! ...

[Ehanatone]

"By the site administrator you were prohibited from leaving comments on this site"
How did your super duper get the buggy editor! ...
Fire all your programmers - they absolutely did not deserve their salaries !!!
It’s impossible to make any changes so as not to run into such an affectionate inscription ...
Apparently you need to write a member 100500 times on a nationwide basis so that at least someone draws attention! ...
PYSY:
190500 times a member on a nationwide! ...

[dauria]

No changes can be made already

Keep within the time allotted for changes. Better yet - think 7 times, or write a draft on a piece of paper ..

[sharp-lad]

For the first in class F 117 is not at all fu.

[core]

Roll out some sort of South American colony this aircraft is quite capable.

[Ovrag]

No wonder. It would be strange if they did not fly.
If you cool your head and look at the dry numbers, you can see that the plane has one of the best statistics on the part of sorties / losses in the face of anti-aircraft defense.
The Yugoslavs are certainly well done, but the fact is that they have 3 versions of how they did it. Which just says that they were lucky. How is the question. Maybe the French thermal imager really turned out to be good, or maybe it was possible to stealth through the radar. Maybe in manual mode. Xs.
In the end, the Americans themselves are evil Pinocchio, who are insolent and began flying during the day.
Outside of this incident, they paid off.
Physics is an undeniable thing. Geometry in reducing radio stealth is still very important.

It is possible that all this time the gliders were refined and modernized in order to achieve even better results.
Potentially, this can be a formidable weapon of air defense breakthrough if they combine all modern developments with quite ultimatum forms of goblins.
Well, you can think about all sorts of options for their conversion of UAVs and so on. Of course this is from the series, but if. But I am sure at least such ideas were most likely discussed.

Trump there recently about a new weapon for 2 trillion. broadcast. Most likely another trampism, but everything can be.
Maybe the Iranians got over that the passenger board was shot down. They were afraid of a covert air defense attack.