Read the forum code of contact
By: 9th October 2014 at 14:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Over the past week, images and now video footage of active F117 flights over Tonopah have come to light:http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/08/new-photos-f117-ttr/
testing sensors or working up to operational use (once the wings have been reattached).....?
Interesting. I would assume they would be a great stealth test platform with well know RCS data. Usefull to test new ground and air based radar systems.
Even more interesting if they were in support of some limited use, especially by certain friendly nations.
By: 9th October 2014 at 23:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-There will be some reason this example is flying not that the public will find out. I always thought they got retired a bit early. I don't know what it's stealth abilities are, I suppose it's only rival in this department would be the B-2 and the F-22 to a lesser extant
By: 17th October 2014 at 11:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Don't quote me but I heard once that the 117 had better stealth characteristics than the B-2. The person who said it was not anything to do with the 117 in fact more likely the other one.
By: 17th October 2014 at 11:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Well the general consensus seems to be they are flying in support of sensor testing. There was also a suggestion that new materials could be in test on a platform whose RCS characteristics are well understood (a bit like when Replica was dusted off recently).
By: 17th October 2014 at 13:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Testing stealth coatings maybe?
By: 17th October 2014 at 15:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-The USAF revived the project after Spudman told them it was actually a 5th gen fighter.
Nic
By: 26th October 2014 at 03:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Following my hypothesis of the use of the 117 to calibrate a testing range, here is another clue:
Posts: 4,619
By: mrmalaya - 9th October 2014 at 13:01
Over the past week, images and now video footage of active F117 flights over Tonopah have come to light:
http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/08/new-photos-f117-ttr/
[ATTACH=CONFIG]232224[/ATTACH]
testing sensors or working up to operational use (once the wings have been reattached).....?