The United States Air Force retired the F-117A stealth fighter from active service today in a private retirement ceremony.The F-117A saw service in Panama, the first Persian Gulf War, during the NATO air war against Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
Only one was lost in combat during it's twenty-five years of service, which speaks of it's technological advantage over modern radar and infrared detection systems. Another (in the same operation over Yugoslavia) suffered major damage but was able to return to base, where it is said that it never flew again. Serbian gunners spotted the F-117s visually and opened fire.
Parts of the crashed F-117A were put on display in a museum in Belgrade.
After the shoot-down, it was reported in the media that the Serbians invited the Russians to inspect the wreckage of the crashed fighter; it's unknown what the Russians were able to get from the wreck. Normally when a valuable asset like an advanced fighter is lost and in danger of being captured by enemy forces, the crash site is bombed.
But due to the presence of civilians and reporters, NATO and the U.S. Air Force declined to destroy the crashed F-117.
The next generation F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II have the stealth characteristics of the F-117, but can go like a couple of bats out of hell, flying twice as fast as the F-117A.
But unlike other fighters that are sent to an Air Force bone yard, broken up and retired permanently, all of the F-117s are being mothballed, which means that their wings will be removed and the fighters will be put into storage, should they ever need to be rushed back into service.
The last of the F-117s is due to land at their storage place on or about the 22nd of April.
Bye bye Batwing.
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