A friend sent me this link on the F-117 career coming to an end. Just thought I would pass it on to all of you in the aircraft world. Apologies upfront if you’ve seen this previously.
Interestingly, one of the interviewees referred to the aircraft as an “old dog”. I must be ancient, since I thought the B-52 was the leading candidate for old dog status.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123030185
Gip Winecoff
In a way she is an “Old Dog”, the F-117 has been with us since the 80’s. Article points out that many of the technologies that were developed for the F-117 has caught up with the times and now being applied to other weaponry and aircraft. The F-117 marked the first use of futuristic weaponry that clearly set our armed forces at the forefront of military advanced technology.
I will miss the Nighthawk. Glad I got a model of the F-117 to remember her by.
Air Master
Well you know what that means…
There’s something waaaaaay cooler flying around out there now. 
Probably making crop circles or buzzing Area 51.
Yea, what he said 
Hmmmm, a Invisible Plane ?
Bud
I find it interesting that in a career as long as the 117’s that there is only an A model. No F-117B or C or N. At least we haven’t been told of any!
But look how long they keeped the 117 quite.
This Story has a familiar ring to it! Can annybody say A-10??? Hey were goig to retire the A-10 Tomorrow, Hey Wait we don’t have anything to replace it!!! Look what the A-10 is doing in the Gulf!!! Hey We’ed better make more OH No We can’t Well Lets keep what weve got flying as long as we can…In a world where the Idiots and bean counters rule and the Proven, needed and useful are replaced with halfa__ politically forced compromises I won’t be suprised if it goes either way, But until theres enough F-22s and/or F35s to supplant/replace it I THINK they need to keep around a few more years(Yes thats Plural)! Thats my 2 cents Good Hunting, G.W.
Nah, that is old news… didnt you ever watch Wonder woman?
So how would you do panel lines on an invisible plane? Weathering? Masking the canopy?
And who would know if it was 1 scale foot to short?
LOL- it would be the first model to rivet-counter proof! 
Sad to see it retired but it served the Country well.
Regards, Rick
I actually already finnished mine, its my best build to date…I’ll post pictures later…
Steve
By now there’s enough F-22’s in inventory to replace the F-117. It was never a numerous aircraft with only two active squadrons, which the F-22 has already matched, and they are standing up more F-22 squadrons. Also those F-22’s can be doing other missions when not tasked with precision penetration strikes, the only mission the F-117 was good for.
While the F-117 was a groundbreaking aircraft, the F-22 has it beat in just about every respect (Except payload, the F-117 could take 2x2000lb guided weapons, while the F-22 is limited to 2x1000lb weapons. However the USAF is moving towards smaller weapons at the moment to limit collateral damage).
Pretty amazing service record for an “old dog”…
It’s interesting that there was virtually nothing 'invented" or newly created technology in the design and building of the F-117…it was all existing technology and techniques used in a way that’s never been done before.
Hat’s off to The Skunk Works, man. Clarence “Kelly” Johnson and his teams sure had brilliant, enquring minds. They’ve created some incredible aircraft over the last 50 years.
I hope his legacy lives on forever.
MMmmm, wonder if she will be a hand me down to the Reserve/Guard units… LOL
Flaps up, Mike
Who knows what they will replace it with? Since Duke announced a cloaking device for infrared there is such possibility.