Ironically, these attempts only heightened public interest in the crash.
Mysterious crash in Sequoia National Forest
On July 11, 1986, the US Air Force carried out a test flight of the top-secret F-101A Voodoo. At approximately 2:00 AM, during a flight over Sequoia National Forest in California, the aircraft went down, resulting in the death of the pilot and igniting a 150-acre brush fire. Firefighters from Kern County and the US Forest Service worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control.
Following the crash, the Air Force quickly secured the area, designating it as restricted airspace. This was done to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the crash site and potentially discovering sensitive information about the newly developed aircraft.
The Air Force put out a vague statement
At the time, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office informed the public, “The whole area has been restricted, including the air space above the crash site. There will be military aircraft in the area, and anyone entering the area will be dealt with appropriately by the Air Force.”
The Air Force issued an even more cryptic statement, merely acknowledging that a US military aircraft had crashed in Sequoia National Forest and that an investigation by a board of officers was underway. “That’s the guidance we’ve been given from Washington,” said Staff Sgt. Lorri Wray. “We can’t give out any details.”
When questioned, a Pentagon spokesperson said that the the crashed aircraft was “not a bomber.”
Replacing the F-117 Nighthawk with an F-101A Voodoo
US Air Force personnel quickly moved to gather debris from the wrecked F-117 Nighthawk. Shortly thereafter, they replaced the damaged aircraft with a downed F-101A Voodoo acquired from Area 51 in Nevada. Given that the F-101A had been retired by both the Air Force in 1972 and the Air National Guard in 1982, it was a suitable stand-in.
The incident rapidly captured public attention and fueled speculation about the origins of the aircraft. Many theorized that it could have originated from Edwards Air Force Base in California, located approximately 65 miles from the crash site. This theory was supported by the base’s long history of testing cutting-edge aircraft, including prototypes, bombers, and modified conventional planes like the Northrop F-20 Tigershark and Rockwell B-1 Lancer.
Sources incorrectly reveal the aircraft was an F-19
An article published by the Associated Press on the day of the crash featured insights from International Arms Combat editor Andy Lightbody, who revealed that unidentified sources had informed him the aircraft involved was an F-19. This largely speculative aircraft has never been officially recognized by the US Air Force but has achieved legendary status among military aviation enthusiasts.
The concept of a secret stealth aircraft called the “F-19” surfaced after the introduction of the F-20. Since the predecessor was the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, many expected the next fighter to be given the subsequent number in the series. When this did not occur, it sparked rumors of a hidden military project.
The Air Force quickly dispelled these rumors, explaining that the discrepancy resulted from Northrop’s specific request for the Tigershark to be designated as the F-20. Nevertheless, some continue to speculate that the F-19 might have been under development, possibly assigned to Lockheed for production.
Unveiling the F-117 Nighthawk
Development of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk traces back to the 1970s, following a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) study that revealed the unexpected vulnerability of US-operated manned aircraft. This revelation led DARPA to initiate a competition for a new stealth fighter design, which was ultimately won by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.
In 1981, after securing the contract, the F-117 performed its first test flight, with deliveries to the US Air Force beginning the following year. Despite becoming operational two years later, the stealth fighter remained highly secretive; the military only publicly acknowledged its development in 1988, and it wasn’t until two years after that the aircraft was revealed to the public.
Throughout its service life, a total of 64 F-117s were built, including five prototypes. The aircraft saw action in the Gulf War and the Yugoslav Wars, with one downed by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) during the latter conflict.
The F-117 was officially retired in 2008, succeeded by the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Even in retirement, a fleet is meticulously maintained in airworthy condition.
F-117 Nighthawk specs
The F-117 Nighthawk was meticulously crafted to evade radar detection, featuring angled panels coated with radar-absorbing material, rendering it virtually invisible on radar screens. Propelled by two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofan engines, it boasted a top speed of Mach 0.92 and a range of 1,070 miles.
The stealth aircraft featured two internal weapons bays and each accommodated a hardpoint, allowing for a variety of munitions, including the B61 nuclear bomb, the GBU-31 JDAM INS/GPS guided munition and several laser-guided bombs, such as the GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-27 Paveway III and GBU-12 Paveway II, each with distinct warheads.
Additional notable features included a distinct V-tail design, air refueling capabilities and quadruple-redundant fly-by-wire flight controls, which were adapted from those used by the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
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Primarily operated by the US Air Force, the F-117 was assigned to the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base; the 4450th Tactical Group and 37th Tactical Fighter Wing at the Tonopah Test Range, Nevada; and the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.