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Last flight of Air Force Stealth Fighters, April 22, 2008 |
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The last four Lockheed-Martin F-117A Nighthawks from the 49th Fighter Wing flew from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico to Air Force Plant 42 at Palmdale, California on Monday, April 21, 2008. They departed for Tonopah, Nevada on Tuesday, April 22. Their wings will be removed and they will be stored in their old hangars.
Slideshow of the visit of the last Stealth Fighters at Palmdale.
A crowd of aviation enthusiasts assembled in anticipation of the departure of the Stealth Fighers.
The local Ford Model A club paraded by on Sierra Highway.
Fifteen minutes before the Stealth Fighters taxied out Northrop T-38A Talon 68-8172 of the 49th fighter Wing based at Holloman Air Force Base took off from Runway 25.
NASA Beech 200 N7NA made several touch-and-go landings.
The four Stealth Fighters took off from Runway 25 at 2:00 PM.
F-117A 88-0843 of the 49th Fighter Wing is the last Stealth Fighter built.
F-117A 88-0843
F-117A 88-0843
F-117A 84-0824 of the 49th Operations Group.
F-117A 84-0824
F-117A 82-0800 of the 8th Squadron.
F-117A 82-0800
F-117A 84-0809 of the 9th Fighter Squadron.
F-117A 84-0809
The four Nighthawks formed up and made a pass along Runway 22.
They disappeared into the haze west of Palmdale. They could still be heard as they headed northeast toward Edwards Air Force Base.
There is at least one F-117A assigned to the test force at Palmdale through the fall.
Slideshow of the visit of the last Stealth Fighters at Palmdale.
F-117A NighthawkWingspan: 43 feetLength: 66 feetWing Area: 1140 square feetMaximum Take-off Weight: 52,500 poundsMaximum Bomb Payload: 2x 2,000 pound bombsMaximum Range: 690 milesPowerplant: 2x 10,800 pound st General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 turbofans |
The last four Lockheed-Martin F-117A Nighthawks from the 49th Fighter Wing flew from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico to Air Force Plant 42 at Palmdale, California on Monday, April 21.
Here's a retrospective of photos of the Stealth Fighter going back to their first public appeaances in 1990.
Visit the Holloman AFB Home Page
You can buy a 2009 calendar featuring my photographs of Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighters.
A dozen photos of Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighters. Nine of the photos depict the last flight of four Stealth Fighters arriving at and departing from Air Force Plant 42 at Palmdale, California on their way to retirement at Tonopah, Nevada.
Put a copy of the Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighter Retirement: 2009 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart.
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