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The F-117 is the world's pure stealth fighter. Its black, alien geometry defies conventional notions that to be effective, jet fighters should be sleek and fast. Despite its awkward appeareance, the F-117 has unilaterally altered warfare, both in the air and on the ground, by defying the efforts of sophisticated air defenses to acquire, track and engage it. Whether you are flying it or trying to defend against it, the F-117 is the preeminent weapon system for destroying the most highly defended and difficult-to-hit targets.
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A
little history
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Even
though the F-117 project started 20 years ago in 1976, little of a definite
nature is known of this aircraft. Much is still highly classified. This
aircraft stemmed from the 'Have Blue' observability-reduction effort
during the mid 1970s.
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A
half sized prototype with a wing span of 22 ft & powered by two General
Electric CJ610 turbojets, first flew in December of 1977. After successful
test trials, design & development of the full-sized version was ordered
in November 1977. The first five service trial aircraft flew 4 years
later, in June 1981. After successful trials with these aircraft, production
on 64 aircraft began. Deliveries began in August 1982 for an initial
operational capability in October of 1983.
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About
the F-117A's airframe
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The
F-117A aircraft is a highly angular type of flying wing with a butterfly
tail & elements of a lifting-body vehicle design. The hard angular shape
of the airframe play havoc with it's aerodynamics at high speed. This
results in an unstable & hard to control aircraft. A quadruplex fly-by-wire
control system was required to tame her bad handling. The hole concept
of the angular airframe is not to absorb incoming electromagnetic energy
(radar) but rather to reflect it in all directions except strait back
at the emitter. This renders this aircraft invisible to conventional
radar systems. The F-117 also utilizes a low heat signature system to
mask the hot engine exhaust. A heat signature can be used to identify
& track aircraft. Because of this the F-117 is aided by the use of a
system of exhaust-spreading slot nozzles that mix cold air into the
exhaust to reduce the heat signature. The two GE turbofan engines are
also berried deep within the fuselage. The two air intakes, either side
of the fuselage are covered with a thermal energy blocking grill to
mask the heat image from the front. This aircraft also has no active
radar of it's own. A conventional radar system acts like a beacon pointing
to it's self. This obviously isn't something you'd want in a stealth
aircraft. The F-117 uses an advanced passive system based on IR sensors
& a doppler navigation system.
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Specifications:
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Primary
Function: Fighter/attack Armament:
Year
entered service: 1983 |
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A
few notes on flying the F-117. This is not a small aircraft, she's
65 ft long. However, she is quite maneuverable. At cruising speed
she'll perform a snap roll like a smaller aerobatic plane would. However
a lower speed she starts to show her size. She will become increasingly
sluggish as you approach landing speeds. The F-117s weight will cause
her to want to keep moving in whatever direction she's being maneuvered.
You may experience a little 'over steer' at low speed. The F-117's
wings have little or no dihedral (upward angle). Because of this you
may find it difficult to maintain level flight. Stall speed with full
flaps is at 90 kts, but she becomes almost unflyable at 115. Landing
speeds therefore need to be high. This should be no problem for anyone
familiar with flying fast jets.
Use of full flaps, spoilers & drag chute is highly recommended when landing. |
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