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That is a long time, if you know that its early years are really secret. How did they keep it so secret????
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123030185
But after all those years is it going to leave the US AirForce.
Question from me? "Do you have memories about this plane or didn't you like it at all?".
Mine first memories was back in 1993 when they visit the Netherlands (Europe for the first time in an excersise) at Gilze-Rijen Airbase.
It was really strange to see them flying and landing, after that you saw that plane almost every year on a show Europe, but the first time was one to never forget.


Salute Dutchy
------------------------
Termites do it in the dark!
(47FS Barksdale afb)

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73-1664

Well Dutchy. I'll jump in and say I didnt like it!

I worked another program at the same place the F-117 was in it's "Black World" days. I 1st saw the "Wobbly Goblin" in person in 1986.

I had a few buddies working the program and we got to go down on several occasions and look around the 117. I will say I thought it was a very intriguing acft, although I am glad I didnt have to work on her.


My unit at the same place was closed so that our program info was not released, when they released the F-117 info out to the world. I had a chance to go to Holloman with the black jet, but elected seperation instead.

Anyone have a spare boot to kick me in the ass for seperating at 7 yr 10 1/2 months with a low line number for E-6?
I think mine and my Dad's are about worn out since I seperated in '88! LOL

"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

Only problem was smacking my head on the lock cranks and the spoilers. They also have those heavy as crap rubber chocks.

Easy for a load toad, but keeping us busy was a pain.

Ignorance may be bliss, but it sure ain't fun!

_________________
Evil is evil, no matter how small.

They use to Clear the Flightline "ASAP"!!! You left your toolboxes,everything where they were,in the middle of a Engine repair etc.... You stopped! and were sent home! Period!

That happened a few times and you Knew something was Up because the Pain Hangar,TOT, and WLT hangars were all OFF LIMITS with
Guards in Black/gray jumpsuits with a Un Marked C-12 SITTING ON THE WASHRACK.

Then She was unvailed at Nellis AFB and alittle bit later it came to ALEX's When they rolled that thing out of the Hangar when We got our first Look <img src=newicons/anim_shock.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/tard.gif border=0 align=middle> It looked like something
"BATMAN" would fly.
Parked next to an A-10 was too much to your mind had to hit
Hyper drive.<img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

It was COOL, but it wasnt an A-10

Later on in the fall of 91 at TRAVIS I had one parked down in the
"BFE Hangar" on Silver Ramp and since it was in my Area as TEAM CHIEF/Expiditer on the Trash Haulers We gave the "GOBBLINS" support.
Thats when I really Got a look at it up close.

Still was a "Turn in Thinking and how old it was then",almost the same age if not older than the A-10.

I heard differant CrewChiefs talk about working on her, but it did a Great Job in the GULF.
I have a model of one.

Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Friend of mine was in the first group to fly the jet. Said that it did not fly very well and without the computers they would have to punch out as it was not stable at all. It was flight planned as an A-7 as the speeds are about the same.

We would go to Vegas and visit for the weekend but he kept up with this "A-7" BS. We all knew what he was flying but did not razz him too much.

He flew it until GW1, then PCS'ed to Tucson for A-10's! Talk about a change in airplanes.

We got a guy here(Type7) that went the other route. A-10s then to F-117s.

LOL, he's probably the only guy in the -117 sqn that thinks the Nighthawk is a hotrod!

Sadly they're drawing em all down now, but they will always hold a special place in history for their unique role as the first ever combat stealth aircraft. Seems like just the other day i saw that retouched photo in PopSci for the very first time...

Anyway, welcome aboard Joe!

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I worked another program at the same place the F-117 was in it's "Black World" days.

My unit at the same place was closed so that our program info was not released, when they released the F-117 info out to the world.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

What was this "other program", if you'd be willing to share or post a link? lol <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Crushed under his own mental block...

Your answer is in my profile Horrido.

I was in the 4477th Test & Evaluation Sq.
Also known as the "Red Eagle's".

Further info you will not gain thru myself, although a search on various sites will give you ample information as to what we did. This of info of course, is all speculation. As far as I am aware the information on my squadron was never made "white world" info.



"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

No point in Floggering him about this Horrido, a lever with a Fulcrum the size of a giant tuna's Fishbed wouldent get him to budge on this one lol

"Fitz" is the tits!
Brownells calls me Aaron Burr cause the
way I'm droppin Hamilton$

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Huh?

Ignorance may be bliss, but it sure ain't fun!

I see your point.

Edited by - Fenderstrat72 on Nov 10 2006 05:33

_________________
Evil is evil, no matter how small.

To put it in simple terms

"Dreamland".

Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

IIRC the "Red Eagles" ran the YF-110 and YF-113s, dont know how "black" it was but it certainly wasnt public knowledge. I didnt know we had Mil-24 Hinds till two of them flew over the house one day lol.

"Fitz" is the tits!
Brownells calls me Aaron Burr cause the
way I'm droppin Hamilton$

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
No point in Floggering him about this Horrido, a lever with a Fulcrum the size of a giant tuna's Fishbed wouldent get him to budge on this one lol

"Fitz" is the tits!
Brownells calls me Aaron Burr cause the
way I'm droppin Hamilton$
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

<img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

Very nicely put Boom's! Very Nice! LOL



"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

Hogsnort, either you speak up, or i'm banning Gifted!!! <img src=newicons/anim_cussing.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
No point in Floggering him about this Horrido, a lever with a Fulcrum the size of a giant tuna's Fishbed wouldent get him to budge on this one lol
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Forgot to add that it was kind of a long time ago and most likely the uniforms Hogsnort wore back then probobly wouldent Fitter him anymore if he is like most of us <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> lol

"Fitz" is the tits!
Brownells calls me Aaron Burr cause the
way I'm droppin Hamilton$

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Some typo. How'd you get that misspelled?

Ignorance may be bliss, but it sure ain't fun!

_________________
Evil is evil, no matter how small.

Kinda what I presumed. I figured he'd just post pics of the types, with a statement neither confirming nor denying they had anything to do with Groom Lake, just that they were nice pics. lol

My greater curiosity is to how they were "recruited" and transported to destination. lol

Crushed under his own mental block...

Edited by - Horrido on Nov 11 2006 22:45

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Kinda what I presumed. I figured he'd just post pics of the types, with a statement neither confirming nor denying they had anything to do with Groom Lake, just that they were nice pics. lol

My greater curiosity is to how they were "recruited" and transported to destination. lol

Crushed under his own mental block...

Edited by - Horrido on Nov 11 2006 22:45
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Pictures I would post if I actually had one of my acft! Unfortunately.......well we know the rest of that line! LOL

To cure Horrido's curiosity I will answer what I can.
As for getting to work, I drove onto Nellis on Tuesday and drove off Nellis on Friday! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Now the "recruitment" for the assignment? Never knew of any. I had heard stories of places you could submit a package and be considered for a job or program, I wasnt really ever interested!
I stepped off of a C-141 returning from a Patrick AFB TDY and was handed orders by my FLt Chief. Welcome Back huh?
I said anywhere in the world except Nellis, I wanted nothing to do with the Western US, preferring to go back to Europe. Mother is British and was hoping and trying to get an assignment there, but to no avail.

Anyway, it is my understanding that I was asked for by guys in the squadron. My personnel file was checked and orders cut. This is what I was told.
Upon arriving at my orderly room the 1st day, I ran into 4 guys I had known previously. 2 in Aviano and 2 at England AFB. I was told by them that they had asked for me.

Did that help?<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

Edited by - Hogsnort on Nov 12 2006 07:48

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I said anywhere in the world except Nellis, I wanted nothing to do with the Western US.... I ran into 4 guys I had known previously. I was told by them that they had asked for me.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Nothing like having good friends eh? <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Fitz" is the tits!
Brownells calls me Aaron Burr cause the
way I'm droppin Hamilton$

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I figured he'd just post pics of the types, <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Just meant any pics of any Fitter, Fishbed, Flogger, Fulcrum, from anywhere.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>My greater curiosity is to how they were "recruited" and transported to destination. lol <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I meant the foreign aircraft and foreigners who saw fit to deliver them. We'll never be told because it could still be useful in the future, I know, but it would still be fun to hear the stories behind the exchanges, delivery, and how they were written off to keep things believably under wraps. lol

Crushed under his own mental block...

What timing on this story being released huh? LOL
This tells the basics, not sure how much more should be elaborated though!

http://www.military.com/Content/Printer_Friendly_Version/1,11491,,00.html?passfile=&page_url=%2Ffeatures%2F0%2C15240%2C118919%2C00%2Ehtml&passdirectory_file=%2Fnewsfiles%2F118919%2Ehtm

"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

Yeah, was reading that and was going to post it. It's funny how topics and obscure subect matter pops-up in clumps. lol

Crushed under his own mental block...