Another article on F-117, this one about its air to air role.
https://theaviationist.com/2020/06/0...th-pilot-says/

Not convinced about the F-117 having a secret HVA air-to-air role. Chris Topham was asked the question directly and he said that while it could carry the AIM-9, it had no way of employing it:

That seems quite consistent with the Aviationist article, which indicates the idea was there but never implemented.

I got in on a visit to the sneaky site at Khamis after GW1, and asked one of the pilots if they did any Air Combat training on the F117 . He said they didn't do any. At least we got an answer to that one, as I think some of the questions we asked were a bit to sensitive to answer.

I have seen a picture of a test firing. As I recall the missile was lowered from the bomb bay on the trapeze and then fired. I do not know whether this was a boost non-guided firing or a guided launch.

I heard a podcast in which the ex F117 guy said they had a plan to target Mainstays if war broke out.

Austrian incursion
 

work up to Iraqi Freedom ....then again if the Bundesheer receivers their Typhoons at the time ...wonder if could be tracked on a numerous way..

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...trian-airspace

There was, the Uk were offered them but declined

At least 4 x F-117s used as Red Air on Red Flag 20-3:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...rial-war-games

Miramar visit
 

Pair of them landed at MCAS Miramar with callsigns of ‚Knight‘ and it was no emergency divert either.

https://theaviationist.com/2020/10/2...fDgLpHf5r4oxjM

Excellent video here showing 2 x F-117 departing MCAS Miramar on October 22:

Now spotted at Nellis AFB too:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....45269884a5.png

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....790c3977f0.png

Neat to see them still flying.

Didn't the 117 fleet go to a gray scheme when at Holloman and until their supposed retirement? Seems all the more recent sighting are in the black scheme (which looks better). Wonder why the switch back to black?

IIRC, they only painted one grey.

Yes the gray scheme was a test and wasn't adopted. I think there may have been more than 1 in Gray and more than 1 scheme according to something I've read on the net.

Edited to add:
Article about the 'Gray dragon' here:

https://theaviationist.com/2013/02/2...-dragon-story/

Comments further down make reference to a 'Gray Ghost' aircraft included in trials in the mid 1990s from someone apparently there.

There was also a 'desert' scheme on one F-117A.

And one with a big flag underneath.

Very like the scheme employed by a certain Middle east country

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2aa9ca3634.jpg

Yes, almost enough to start a rumour eh....

First time I saw one was Mildenhall Air Fete 96 so here are my photos..

cheers


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....10ba258b5.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5b1e86437.jpeg

3 decades and fortnight ago Desert Storm kicked off with the Wobbly Goblin seine action for second time ...

Anyhow reminiscent of this the 117 has been cleared to being tanked up.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...8QItURqjKyBaQ8

cheers