The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a retired American single-seat, twin-engine stealth attack aircraft that was developed by Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works division and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The F-117 was based on the Have Blue technology demonstrator.

The Nighthawk was the first operational aircraft to be designed around stealth technology. Its maiden flight took place in 1981 at Groom Lake, Nevada, and the aircraft achieved initial operating capability status in 1983. The Nighthawk was shrouded in secrecy until it was revealed to the public in 1988. Of the 64 F-117s built, 59 were production versions, with the other five being prototypes.

The F-117 was widely publicized for its role in the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Although it was commonly referred to as the "Stealth Fighter", it was strictly a ground-attack aircraft. F-117s took part in the conflict in Yugoslavia, where one was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) in 1999; it was the only Nighthawk to be lost in combat. The U.S. Air Force retired the F-117 in 2008, primarily due to the fielding of the F-22 Raptor.

Pictured here is a spectacular 1:72 scale diecast replica of a F117A Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft that was attached to the 410th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, then deployed to Edwards AFB, California, during 1990. Features the Lockheed "Skunkworks" logo on the underside of the aircraft. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/4-inches
Length: 11-inches

Release Date: November 2020

Historical Account: "The Frisbees of Dreamland" - In the 1970's, Soviet air defense systems improved radically and the U.S. realized they had to develop an aircraft that could penetrate Soviet air space. The Lockheed Skunk Works was tasked with the job and two aircraft were built under the code name "Have Blue", proving stealth aircraft could be produced. As a result, the F-117 Nighthawk was developed and first flew in 1981 with the first production F-117 80-10785 making its maiden flight on April 20th, 1982. It wasn't until 1988, however, that the Pentagon confirmed its existence.

The 410th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, at Edwards AFB were the last units to operate the F-117. The F-117A first flew in 1987 and on December 1st, 1988, was the first F-117 to test the new OCIP II upgrade. Between November 27th and December 6th, 1990, #831 wore a painting of a skunk on its belly as a tribute to the Skunk Works. On December 6th, 1990, #831 was flown to Area 51 to celebrate the retirement of the company's president, Ben Rich. The painting was removed immediately after the event.