Warbird Information Exchange

Its all about $$$.

Mike

Tonopah Test Range? Isn't that the alternate name for Area 51?

RICK

NO, it's a totally separate airfield. TTR is where the Stealth originally was deployed early on before it came out of the black. Area 51 has many names, but the most common are "Dreamland" or "Groom Lake".

Okay, guys, I think you are really missing the boat with the entire idea of what role the F-117 plays in the overall USAF mission.

The 117 has always been a one-trick pony: sneak in, drop one or two bombs, then sneak out.

That's it.

It was constructed to be able to sneak around (NOT BE INVISIBLE TO) the SAMs and EW radar systems that were prolific in the 1970s.

It also always required a lot of other aircraft to solely support that "sneaking" mission -- air to air fighters that could rush in if adversary aircraft were hunting it down, EW jamming aircraft, etc.

It had several limitations on how it could be used because of the designers very early understanding of how stealth worked.

Today, we have a MUCH BETTER capability with the Raptor. It can do the SAME mission, but also has the added value of being able to defend itself (doesn't need other fighters dedicated to its protection).

The air defense situation has also changed. Those same 1970s Air Defense Systems that the 117 was designed to penetrate are not what we're going to find in most of the countries we might need a stealth aircraft in.

So, there's not some crazy conspiracy out there. There's not some fantastic new super-secret aircraft on duty that is allowing the 117 to be retired. The airplane is out of date, simply stated. It is still being 'protected' in retirement because it does still have some classified technology on it that applies to current-day advanced aircraft.

It is being retired because the USAF is having to really tighten its belt to retain the combat capability it needs to.

So, it was a neat airplane and performed magnificently, but its time has come.