RLGaming.com

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_8979043?so ... st_emailed

She is retiring today

Here is info on the bird
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-117_Nighthawk

F-22 is the replacement for those wondering.

well they are being mothballed.....not reduced....they can unpack them at a later date

If I remember right it takes about 90 days to bring a mothballed craft into service again. But it is outdated, and unlikely it will be brought back anytime soon except maybe for research craft.

I still remember the Panama operation from 1989 like it was almost yesterday. My, how time flies.

Unlikely that it would be brought back as a research craft. Its stealth design is fairly well research at this point, and its doubtful much more could be learned from it. More than likely, it would be brought back if a mission particularly suited its abilities. I'm suprised they are replacing it withteh F-22. I assume the F-22 has the same bombing capabilities?

F-22 probably has better payload and range. I'm not sure about how it compares on stealth, except that the F-22 is surprisingly stealthy. I know they're building these new "Small Diameter Bombs" that it will be able to carry in internal bays that are precision guided. Probably more in-tune with our "limited civilian casualties" doctrine. Not sure how that's progressing.