RAF F-117 pilots
 

Morning folks

Anyone recall names of RAF pilots who flew the F-117, either when it was officially in-service or when still in development? Also, what were those RAF chaps flying for the RAF at the time of exchange?

I've read elsewhere that RAF jocks have worked with the F-117 throughout its life and now I'm officially interested.

Also, any insights into those old F-117 flying out of Binbrook rumours? I once saw a photo of one doing an o/s at sunset at Binny, but not sure if this was when it was 'out of the closet' or not.

Ta.

"Officially Interested"

RAF jocks, you say? I wasn't aware anyone from God's country went off to fly it...

Seek and ye shall .......... never mind.

http://www.ais.org/~schnars/aero/bandits.htm

And Google: http://www.rafreserves.com/News/Story.aspx?article=129

"Officially interested" - merely a turn of phrase.

Got some time on my hands (house-sitting... rather god, I recommend it... you just sit).

I've heard many accounts of RAF chaps flying it. An ex-RAF jock flew it with the Reds in formation at a UK airshow a few years back.

IIRC The first two (after it came out of the closet anyway) were Jag Mates.

According to Paul Crickmore's "F-117 Nighthawk"
 

Graham Wardell
Dave Southwood (evaluation only)
Colin Cruickshanks (as above)
Chris Topham
Ian Wood
Mark C Sutton
Alistair Monkman

This is up to 1998.

It's a great book by the way.

Gareth

By "jock" I meant Scottish...:ugh:

There have been eight RAF F-117A exchange pilots. I don’t know if Cooke is the last, and whether the F-117A exchange has been replaced by, or remains additional to, the F-22 exchange, but with the end of -117 conversion training it seems unlikely that there will be a ninth.
Bandit number>name>previous type>qualification date
1) Bandit 282 - Squadron Leader Graham Wardell, RAF, (ex-Tornado?) 14 DEC 88
2) Bandit 354 - Squadron Leader Chris Topham, RAF, (ex-Jags) 27 FEB 91
3) Bandit 436 - Squadron Leader Ian Wood, RAF, (ex-Jags) 11 JAN 94
4) Bandit 481 – Squadron Leader Mark Sutton, RAF, 21 FEB 96
5) Bandit 540? - Squadron Leader Al Monkman, RAF, (ex-Tornado) 3 APR 98
6) Bandit ??? - Squadron Leader Linc Taylor, RAF, (ex Harrier)
7) Bandit 625 - Squadron Leader Ritchie Matthews, RAF, (ex-Jags) 2003
8) Bandit ??? - Squadron Leader Charlie Cooke, RAF, (ex-Jags) (2005-2007)
plus
Colin Cruikshank and Dave Southwood of FJTS who had five flights each in 1985 at Groom Lake.

Graham was definately Jags, he bounced one off a radio mast in Germany and got a free tie.

Colin Cruickshank has a fascinating description of how the two tps came to fly it included in Bernard Noble's "Properly to Test: Book Two".

JN: CC doesn't say, but Tonopah more likely than Groom, surely?

I'm only repeating a third-hand story.....

Would this have been the same Graham Wardell (6/6/99)?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/362464.stm

According to Dave Southwood in the previously mentioned book it was indeed Tonopah, with one flight each for him and CC in an F-15B at Luke AFB as prep.

It is the same Graham Wardell I believe.

So that's what happened to him...was in the same ATC Sqn with Mark many years back now.

S/L Richie Matthews C/S was Bandit 625, got his signature on a Limited Edition Squadron Print.

Quick question - what does "Bandit" status mean? Is it anything like becoming an "Ace" after 5 kills?

I understand a number of these aircraft are now back at TTR in storage, what goes around comes around:)

"Bandit" is the callsign awarded after a pilot becomes qualified in the F-117 aka "Stinkbug."

Thus 'Bandit 685' would be the 685th pilot to qualify in the jet.

Bandit was one of the original F-117 squadrons at Tonopah.

I think.