0095 Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk Boeing B-52D Stratofortress North American F-100D Super Sabre Republic F-105G Thunderbolt II

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk was developed in response to an Air Force request for an aircraft capable of attackin high value targets without being detected by enemy radar.By the 1970s,new materials and techniques allowed engines to design an aircraft with radar-evading or "stealth" qualities.The result was the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk,the world's first operational stealth aircraft.

 

The first Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk flew on June 18,1981,and the first Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk unit ,the 4450 Tactical Group (renamed the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in October 1989),achieved initial operating capablity in October 1983.The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk first saw combat during Operation Just Cause on December 19,1989,when two Lockheed F-117A Nighthawks from the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing attacked military targets in Panama.

 

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk again went into action during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991 when the 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing mover to a base in Saudi Arabia.During Operation Desert Storm,the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawks flew 1,271 sorties,achiving an 80 percent mission sussess rate,and suffered no losses or battle damage.A total of 59 Lockheed F-117A Nighthawks were built between 1989 and 1990.In 1989 the Lockhhe F-117A nighthawk was awarded the Collier Trophy,one of the most prized aeronautical awards in the world.

 

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk built and was specially modified for systems testing.In 1991 after its testing program was completed.It marked as it appearded during tests conducted for the Air Force Systems Command between 1981 and 1991.

 

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

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After it became operational in 1955,the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress remained the main long-range heavy bomber of the U.S.Air Force during the Cold War,and continues to be an important part of the U.S.Air Force bomber force today.Nearly 750 were built before production ended in October 26,1962;170 of these were Boeing B-52D Stratofortesses

 

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress had set numerous records in its many years of service.On January 18,1957,three Boeing B-52B Stratofortresses completed the first non-stop round-the-world flight by jet aircraft,lasting 45 hours and 19 minutes and required only three aeral refueling.It was also a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress that made the first airbore hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll,Island on May 21,1956.

 

In June 1965 Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses entered combat in Southeast Asia.By 1973,they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with 17 Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses lost to enemy action.

 

The Boeing B-52D Stratofortess saw extensive action in Southeast Asia was several damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile on April 9,1972.In December 1972 after being repaired,it flew four addional missions over North Vietnam.

 

North American F-100 Super Sabre

------------------------------------------------Developed as a follow-on to the North American F-86 Sabre used in the Korean War,the North American F-100 Super Sabre was the world's first production airplane capable ot flying faster than the speed of sound in level flight (760 mph(.The prototype --the North American YF-100A Super Sabre--made its first flight on May 25,1953,at Edwards Air Force Base,California.Of the 2,294 North American F-100 Super Sabres built before production ended in 1959,1,274 were North American F-100D Super Sabres more than all the other series combined.The North American F-100D super Sabre modle,which made its first flight on Januarary 24,1956,was most advanced production version.Its features included the first autpilot designed for a supersonic jet and a low-altitude bombing system.The North American F-100 Super Sabre had its combat in Southeast Asia where it was used extensively as a fighter-bomber in ground-support missions such as attacking bridges,road junctions and troop concentrations.

 

The Thunderbirds,the U.S.Air Force Flight Demonstration Team,from 1964 until 1968.During the period =,the team toured the Caribbean,Europe,Latin America,and nearly every state in the United States.

 

Republic F-105 Thunderchief

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The Republic F-105 Thunderchief,nickname the "Thud" enolved from a 1951 project by to repace the Republic F-84 Thunderstreak fighter-bomber.The prototype first flew in October 1955,and Republic delivered the first production to the U.S.Air Force in 1958.Republic also deleloped a fully combat-capable two-seat trainer version,the Republic F-105F Thunderchief,abd 143 of them in 1963-1964.

 

The Republic F-105G Thunderchief began operational service in 1964 as a standard Republic F-105F Thunderchief.In 1967,it joined the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing in Thailand,where it flew combat missions for nearly three years.During this time,it became on of a select few U.S.Air Force aircaft Republic F-105G Thunderchief to claim three MIG kills.In 1970 it was fitted with electronic counter-measure (ECM) equipment for "Wild Weasel" duty,attacking enemy SA-2 surface-to-air missile sites.

 

In 1972 the aircraft Republic F-105G Thunderchief was modifieed to the inproved Republic F-105G " Wild Weasle Thundercielf configuration

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