The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a retired American single-seat, subsonic, twin-engined, stealth attack aircraft developed by Lockheed 's secretive Skunk Works division and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). It was the first operational …

It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter. [1] Named for the North American spider Latrodectus mactans, it was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design armed with four forward-firing 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano M2 autocannon in the lower fuselage, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in a dorsal gun turret.

Sep 15, 2017 · Operating at night and virtually invisible to radar, the F-117A Nighthawk racked up a near-perfect combat record. Using night vision equipment, a photographer captured this ghostly view of crews in Kuwait readying a Lockheed F-117A for a …

Jul 1, 1990 · The Air Force and Lockheed got the F-117 A fighter built and flying in a mere thirty-one months, but kept it under wraps for eleven years. Now the world is getting its first close look at one of history’s most unusual combat aircraft.

The Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk (previously designated the XP-87) was a prototype American all-weather jet fighter-interceptor, and the company's last aircraft project. [1] Designed as a replacement for the World War II –era propeller-driven P-61 Black Widow night/interceptor aircraft, the XF-87 lost in government procurement competition ...

Sep 26, 2024 · Night fighters played a key role in intercepting enemy bombers and defending cities and vital targets from air raids. Here are five fighter squadrons known for their success in night combat missions during the war.

Discover the F-117 Nighthawk, the world's first operational stealth aircraft, revolutionizing aerial warfare with its innovative capabilities and iconic design.

Feb 25, 2013 · But since the F-117 had to fly only night missions, the U.S. Air Force stated that the Nighthawks had to be painted in black. However, in 2003 one example of the F-117A was painted in gray with...

The F-117A Night Hawk, the world's first stealth fighter. A comprehensive history of the F-117A program from conception through current operations. www.f-117a.com

Jan 5, 2025 · Specialized aircraft were equipped with advanced technology and tactics to locate and destroy enemy bombers in the dead of night. These planes represented the height of wartime engineering and adaptation. Here are three of the most fearsome night fighters from the conflict. 1. Bristol Beaufighter.