YF-117A
United States Air Force (USAF)

Operator: 4450th Tactical Group
Date: 1981
Loadout: Test & Evaluation
- Internal Bays: Closed

Personal Interest: The YF-117A was the prototype of the F-117A Nighthawk, the world’s first operational stealth fighter. Developed as part of a highly secretive program, the YF-117A incorporated groundbreaking stealth technology, including its unique angular design and radar-absorbing materials, which minimized its radar signature. The aircraft’s successful flight tests in the 1980s demonstrated the viability of stealth in combat, ultimately leading to the F-117’s deployment in 1983. The YF-117’s pioneering role in the evolution of stealth warfare captivated my interest in how innovative technologies reshape air combat, and it remains a powerful symbol of the intersection of engineering and military strategy.

Model Specifications: This model represents the YF-117A Full Scale Demonstrator (FSD) #1. The aircraft features a blue, gray and sand camouflage paint scheme and a longer center probe necessary for flight testing.