In the summer of 1986, a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk went down in California’s Sequoia National Forest. At first, the US Air Force tried to keep the crash a secret. But as public interest grew, authorities tried to disguise the aircraft’s identity by replacing the wreckage with parts from a McDonnell F-101A Voodoo.
Ironically, these actions only heightened the public’s interest in the event.
Mysterious crash in Sequoia National Forest
On July 11, 1986, the US Air Force conducted a test flight of the highly classified F-117 Nighthawk. Around 2:00 AM, while on a flight over Sequoia National Forest, California, the aircraft crashed, claiming the life of the pilot and sparking a 150-acre brush fire. Firefighters from Kern County and the US Forest Service worked tirelessly to contain the blaze.
In the aftermath, the Air Force swiftly cordoned off the area, declaring it restricted airspace. This precautionary measure aimed to deter any unauthorized individuals from accessing the crash site and potentially obtaining information about the newly developed aircraft.
In a statement at the time, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office told 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.”
A statement from the Air Force was even more vague, only revealing that a US military aircraft had crashed in Sequoia National Forest and that a board of officers was investigating the incident. “That’s the guidance we’ve been given from Washington,” said Staff Sgt. Lorri Wray. “We can’t give out any details.”
When asked, a Pentagon spokesperson said the crashed aircraft was “not a bomber.”
Replacing the F-117 Nighthawk with an F-101A Voodoo
US Air Force personnel quickly started the retrieval of debris from the downed F-117 Nighthawk. Subsequently, the damaged aircraft was replaced with a crashed F-101A Voodoo sourced from Area 51 in Nevada. Having been decommissioned by the Air Force in 1972 and the Air National Guard in 1982, the F-101A was a fitting substitute.
The incident quickly captured public attention, causing speculation about the aircraft’s origin. Many believed it hailed from Edwards Air Force Base, California, situated approximately 65 miles from the crash site. This speculation was fueled by the base’s well-known history of testing cutting-edge aircraft, ranging from prototypes to bombers and modified conventional aircraft. Examples include the Northrop F-20 Tigershark and the Rockwell B-1 Lancer.
Sources incorrectly reveal the aircraft was an F-19
An article released by the Associated Press on the day of the crash included insights from International Arms Combat editor Andy Lightbody, who disclosed that unnamed sources had informed him the aircraft involved was an F-19. This mostly speculative aircraft was never officially acknowledged by the US Air Force, yet it has maintained a legendary status among military aviation fans.
The idea of a secret stealth aircraft labeled “F-19” emerged after the F-20 was introduced. Given that its predecessor was the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, many assumed the next fighter would naturally be assigned the following number in the series. When this didn’t happen, it fueled rumors of a covert military initiative.
The Air Force quickly dismissed these rumors, clarifying that the discrepancy was due to Northrop’s specific request for the Tigershark to be designated as the F-20. However, some still speculate that the F-19 may have been under development, potentially 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.