A new aircraft is joining the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum collection this fall. A Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter will be added at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a retired American stealth attack aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force. It was the first operational aircraft designed with stealth technology. It’s known for its ability to enter enemy territory undetected and launch attacks such as disabling anti-aircraft capabilities and eliminating key targets.
“The Nighthawk could be the tip of the spear, taking out enemy defenses before they knew what hit them or it could destroy selective strategic targets, helping achieve objectives with unmatched precision,” Chris Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the National Air and Space Museum, said in a release. “Adding this breakthrough aircraft to the national collection will ensure generations to come know its amazing story.”
The F-117 joining the collection is nicknamed “The Overachiever;” it was the only aircraft that flew in all major Nighthawk combat operations. These include Operation Just Cause (Panama, 1989), Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991), Operation Allied Force (Yugoslavia, 1999), and Operation Enduring Freedom (Iraq, 2003).
Visitors can find the F-117 Nighthawk at the Udvar-Hazy Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar. It is expected to be on display in late October.
Feature image courtesy Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
