View Full Version : F117A over my house
Wee Weasley Welshman
18th Jul 2003, 01:52
As I type I glance up out of the living room window to witness a pair of F117A's in a shallow right hand bank pass over my front garden at about 3,000ft.
Which is mildly suprising.
Didn't know they were routinely to be seen flying in the UK in daylight outside of major exercises or displays.
WWW
ps I'm not really a spotter.
PPRuNe Radar
18th Jul 2003, 02:04
Probably on their way to a major display .... at Fairford ;)
Wee Weasley Welshman
18th Jul 2003, 03:27
Oh, I didn't know there was one on... I'm on a stag-do this weekend and have not been paying attention.
WWW
ps anyone bumping into an insanely drunk welsh midget over the weekend in Newquay then please, accept my apologies in advance.
Training Risky
18th Jul 2003, 18:52
Don't worry, I'm sure they'll just march you down to the beach, give you a rubber dighy,a paddle and a compass, and tell you to start paddling North!;)
Out Of Trim
20th Jul 2003, 23:43
Or maybe he was at the other New Quay - In Wales!!
See - http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&db=hcgaz&addr1=&client=public&addr2=&advanced=&addr3=&pc=&X=238738&quicksearch=New+Quay&Y=260108&scale=100000&place=New+Quay,Ceredigion&coordsys=gb
;)
Wee Weasley Welshman
21st Jul 2003, 01:37
Would I be correct in thinking the F117 when in the UK is based out of Fairford. I assume it needs specialist support and isn't designed to be readily deployable.
Also - have they ever published a cockpit picture?
Cheers
WWW
Chris Kebab
21st Jul 2003, 02:58
You seem remarkably compos mentis for someone just back off a stag weekend?!
F-117 cockpit (http://www.f117reunion.org/F117%20About.htm)
STANDTO
22nd Jul 2003, 05:27
hmmmmmm, looks straightforward enough!
Mad_Mark
22nd Jul 2003, 06:40
W3 wrote
Would I be correct in thinking the F117 when in the UK is based out of Fairford. I assume it needs specialist support and isn't designed to be readily deployable
I wouldn't have thought so. The F117 is basically a conventional aircraft (some components even coming straight from the F15) wrapped in a stealth technology skin.
MadMark!!! :mad:
rivetjoint
22nd Jul 2003, 16:18
No, they've always used Lakenheath when on TDY in the UK. The aircraft has been deployed dozens of times in its past, maybe you're confusing it with the B-2?
Wee Weasley Welshman
22nd Jul 2003, 21:21
I speak from a position of profound ignorance so please indulge me.
I simply assumed that as one half of the 'stealth' platform the F117 required similar cosseting to the B2, e.g. special hangars. Thinking about its in service date and the suprisingly (to me) convential cockpit it is perhaps not so delicate as the B2. I was totally unaware that it shared off the shelf componentry with the F15 - what miraculous restraint that must have shown, BAe would never have fallen for that... ;-)
Which leads me to pose another question - have they published an out of service date for the F117? I know it flies less and has less fatigue than most types but it is getting on a bit now - is the end in sight?
I must say Monday mornings Glouscestershire sky was an interesting a loud mix of departing aircraft. If *only* I hadn't been nurturing Northern Europes largest and most powerful hangover I might have enjoyed it!
Cheers
WWW