So Long F-117
 

So long “Wobbly Goblin”. The F-117 retires. This was the last true “skunk works” working environment projects where the engineering ruled. The F-117 is special to me. I started my aerospace career working in landing gear design group. We could go down to the production line and mark up drawing on the spot to initiate design changes. (Try that now!) It was a fun project and I was fortunate to experience this true team working environment.

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Too bad to see it go the way of the blackbird, BTW, is that radar absorbing paint?

I'm sure this is just regular paint. Although the RAM material can have pigments added to it without affecting it's performance.

So when can I buy one?

bit short as far as service life goes

and as far as stealthy , they weren't invisible

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/salute

I love that plane.

Cool plane, but it has been surpassed. Must have been an amazing experience, working on that sort of design team. That's something that every engineer dreams of.

Did you work with Ben Rich?

I am TOTALLY picking one of those up at the local surplus store.

Ben Rich was a true patriot. And I simply love the fact that America is home to all - and that someone of any religion - including Judaism, can find themselves running an organization lie the Skunk Works - and doing so well at it. Kinda makes me proud to be an American - if one can still say that these days.

Ben was in charge at the time I was there. I didn't have a need to interface with him. But Ben would make it a point to meet all new engineers so he did take time come out and shake my hand. His demeanor was quite different compared to Kelly Johnson (as I have been told).

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Guess it's not so secret anymore!

I had the joy of guarding them a few times in my career, although I was told many parts were just borrowed tech from other aircraft such as the F-16.

I remember seeing the first/early bird at Dayton. The nosewheel bay was signed by all the folks that built it.

Back in the late 80's I was a sales engineer for switches and sensors and called on the Skunkworks - and the rest of the SoCal prime contractors. Great years.

Dad used to be a flight engineer on KC-10s, after the stealth was made public he would tell us about missions he had over the New Mexico desert where they were told simply to be here at "X" time.

Nothing on radar, but a whole mess of airplanes behind them waiting in line for gas.

Much of the airplane was built from A-7 parts and in fact until it was brought out in the open they always flight planned as an A-7. Performance was about the same and did a good job covering. There were some F-16 giblets in it as well as other parts from other airplanes. The magic was on the outside and design, not the internal bits and they did all they could to save money and use proven parts to get the plane in the air sooner.

A long time friend of mine flew it for years and the display in the Pima Air Museum at DM in Tucson is his.

Gary, did you ever run into Col. Gary Sanders at the plant? He was one of the early pilots on the -117 and as an engineer spent a lot of time there in the early days. After the bird became operational he spent most of his time at Nellis or up in Tonopah but you may have met him. Nice guy, we flew together on and off for almost 30 years and a very good friend of mine. He passed 4 months ago in Tucson, a loss to us all.

we did some machining on wing flap actuators for them in my past aerospace life. had my clearance to go onto flight line at nellis and holloman a.f.b..

WHAT A GAS !

was able to go right up to the YELLOW LINE OF DOOM AND DEATH that K-9 HANDLER GUARDED! tech sgt. briefed us if we stepped across that line either the big mean nasty ugly K-9 was going to eat us alive or the guard was going to shoot our ass w/either a M-9 or his M-16! no screwing around!

used to go to end of holloman a.f.b. runway and watch sorties take off.

one of the coolest projects i was ever on.

sounds cliche but it made me proud to be an american.

plus the fact i didnt want to be the bad guys and have that damn thing chasing me down!

It was a major achievement for the USA & struck fear into the hearts of our enemies. But for some reason it never did make my blood flow like an SR-71 or F-14 or YF-22.

The -117 just did its job, quietly and professionally. It sure struck fear in the Ruskies and Iraqui's hearts and souls...

The old SR-71 got your attention and in a big way. My first experience with one was at Ft. Hunch-a-huck in Sierra Vista AZ (Fort Huachuca) doing some work a long time ago.

It was at dusk and once getting dark they could take off without the prying eyes of the spooks in the hills. The driver lit full AB and popped up on the range where we were scaring the waddin out of us even though we knew it was coming.

Never forget it and every time I think of that bird on full burner the phrase "Jet Noise, the sound of FREEDOM" comes to mind.

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