F-117- The new "warbird"?

[tulsaboy]

Thought that with the retirement of the F-117, it merited the question- does this now qualify as a "warbird?" In my mind, definitely yes. Are there any in museums around the country?

kevin

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/11/stealt ... index.html

[P51Mstg]

There are virtually NONE in Museums. The USAFM in Dayton has one. Supposedly the Smithsonian will get one and I understand Dayton will get another one.

I doubt you will ever see another in a museum for a VERY long time. A lot of the airplane is still very classified. I heard a story of one museum that asked about getting one and they said they could possibly if they pay the demil cost to make it unclassified which was quoted as over $1million.

Mark H

[k5083]

And if they modified it to make it unclassified, it would lose most of its value as a technological artifact. Better to sock a couple away in one of the govt's secret closets for a few more decades and bring them out when they're really harmless.

August

[Asterperious]

The de-mil quote is true, actually nearer $1.5million excluding transport for the YF-117. The issue is the maufacturers proprietary interets in the RAM coating, and teh work involved with abating it. Nothing else is sensitive or classified that would affect displayability.

[warbird1]

There are virtually NONE in Museums. The USAFM in Dayton has one. Supposedly the Smithsonian will get one and I understand Dayton will get another one.

Mark H

I believe there is one on display at Nellis AFB, NV.

[warbird1]

The de-mil quote is true, actually nearer $1.5million excluding transport for the YF-117. The issue is the maufacturers proprietary interets in the RAM coating, and teh work involved with abating it. Nothing else is sensitive or classified that would affect displayability.

Also, another area that is HIGHLY classified, in addition to the RAM coating is the exhaust baffling or "platypus tail". That is probably the most sensitive thing on the aircraft.

[P51Mstg]

Warbird1 is correct, there is a F-117 on a stick at Nellis and I recall that the exhaust baffling was a classified area on the demill.

I got to shoot the new F-35 Lightning a week ago and the inlets and exhaust stayed covered and the "handlers" told me that the covers had to stay on since they didn't want ANY pictures of them getting out..............

Mark H

[vernicator]

I found a series of pics of the Nellis birds when it was restored recently...

During:
http://www.flightlineservices.com/projects.cfm?pid=85

After:
http://www.flightlineservices.com/projects.cfm?pid=87

[PhantomAce08]

Are the ones on display "real" ones? Or are they test beds like the B-2 at Dayton?

[vernicator]

The Nellis bird is 79-10780 and the one in the airforce museum is 79-10781. These were the first 2 production F-117s built and were used for testing purposes.

[Django]

It's a shame the NMUSAF couldn't get a combat veteran.