| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | Not known |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Northrop YF-117D Tacit Blue |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Northrop YF-117D Tacit Blue |
| Aircraft Version: | Northrop YF-117D Tacit Blue |
| C/n (msn): | |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Patterson AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KFFO IATA: FFO Local: FFO Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 22 November 2022 |
| Photo by: | Arjun Sarup |
| Photo ID: | 565535 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
On display in the Research & Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This aircraft was built in the 1980s as an experimental battlefield surveillance aircraft. It differed from the faceted surfaces of the F-117 Nighthawk and helped in the development of the B-2. Described as one of the most unstable aircraft ever flown, it required a digital fly-by-wire system to control it. Using its SLAR, it could loiter successfully at low speeds over and behind the battlefield as a stealth aircraft. Having been flown 135 times, Tacit Blue was retired in 1985. This photo is copyright © Arjun Sarup, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 21 April 2023, and has since been viewed 868 times. |