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Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk facts for kids

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Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
F-117 Nighthawk (2152064930).jpg
Role Attack aircraft
National origin USA
Manufacturer Lockheed
First flight 1981
Introduction 1983
Status Out of service.
Primary user US Air Force
Number built 64

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a special US military jet aircraft. It was the first "stealth" aircraft that was officially used. This means it was built to be very hard for enemy radar to find. The US Air Force was its only user until 2003. It was used in the Gulf War and also during NATO air attacks in Kosovo in 1999.

What is the F-117 Nighthawk?

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a ground-attack aircraft. This means its main job was to attack targets on the ground. It has one seat for the pilot and two engines. It was the very first aircraft designed to fly using special stealth technology.

How Stealth Technology Works

The F-117 Nighthawk has a unique shape. Its flat, angled surfaces help to bounce radar signals away from the radar receiver. This makes the aircraft appear much smaller or even invisible on radar screens. Because of its special shape, it could only fly at speeds slower than the speed of sound. The way it looked, with its unusual 2D shape, came from computer technology used in the 1970s.

When Was It Used?

The F-117 Nighthawk was first flown in 1981 and officially started service in 1983. It was a very important aircraft for the US Air Force. It was used in major conflicts like the Gulf War. It also took part in air attacks by NATO in Kosovo in 1999.

Why Was It Retired?

The F-117 Nighthawk was retired from service in 2008. This happened because newer, more advanced stealth aircraft, like the F-22 Raptor, were developed. These new planes could do the same job even better.

Images for kids

  • F-117 Grey Dragon

    An F-117A painted in a special "Gray Dragon" camouflage.

  • F-117 Front View

    A front view of an F-117.

  • Lockheed F-117A cockpit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, USA

    The cockpit of a Lockheed F-117A.

  • F-117A GBU-28

    An F-117 dropping a laser-guided bomb during a practice run.

  • F-117A Nighthawks

    Two F-117A Nighthawks flying together.

  • American Flag F-117 Nighthawks

    Two F-117 Nighthawks with a US flag design on their undersides.

  • Stealth Fighters 37Tac

    Twenty-two F-117A aircraft ready for deployment to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield.

  • A294, Lockheed F-117A, National Museum of the USAF, Dayton, Ohio, USA, 2008

    The F-117A Scorpion 2 at a museum.

  • 08-0817 Shaba

    The F-117 Shaba being restored.

  • F117 Schematics

    A diagram showing the size and shape of the Lockheed F-117A.

See also

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