nighthawk

re:

“relevance?” same could be said of the huge numberso f F100s Tbirds and Mysteres in collections.

Its a mean looking aeroplane that would look amazing on the gate and attract punters. What more reason do you need?

As the first operation aircraft designed around being “stealthy” (if that’s a proper word) as the principal objective, I’d think there would be an interest in if from that perspective.

Much as the Me-262 is displayed as the first combat jet…irrespective of nationality.

The IWM’s remit in collecting terms is pretty wide…which means that anything operated, owned, captured or liberated by UK forces is fair game.

The American Air Museum is a way of getting a wider net of UK based American hardware into the equation.

It is not simply a Museum of Warfare….their remit does have limits…

B-52s may not have dropped weapons in anger in Europe, but they were and are regular visitors to these shores.. moreso than the F-117, even if they were delpoyed during operations in Kosovo.

That the IWM would like to have one is not the issue.. I’m sure they would, but how it is intergrated into the collection would be interesting…

Mind it would be pretty special to have a U-2, SR and F-117 in the same building.. spanning the best of the Kelly/ Rich Skunk Works era.

DGH – they could put some rides down that end as well which could bring a few more punters in!

The B-52 in the collection did not drop any bombs in anger in Europe before it was retired from service. There are examples of the F-117 that have.

I don’t know what their collecting policy is but IWM is a Museum of Warfare therefore almost any military machine would surely be relevant.

Roger Smith.

Well it’s the Imperial War Museum, which refers to the British empire – so that should narrow it down abit.

Relevant or not I’m sure it would mean plenty of ‘bucks’ through the door which would benefit the collection as a whole. Part of the whole balancing act of keeping a museum within it’s remit and bringing in the punters.

However the relevance of the F-117 is not clear…

I don’t know what their collecting policy is but IWM is a Museum of Warfare therefore almost any military machine would surely be relevant.

Roger Smith.

Curly,

They, the IWM, did not want to locate the F-15 inside…a choice motivated by desire not space inside the AAM.

If an F-117 was loaned to the IWM under the same conditions as the Sr then space in the AAM would be found…

However the relevance of the F-117 is not clear…

We have a SR71 that is all the tribute the skunk works need.

The F117 would have no where to go as they cant even get the F15A inside and that has been here a few years now.

But i do agree what has the F117 got to do with the UK ?, at least the SR71 visited the UK and had a DET here for quite a while.

No if you want to see a nighthawk go to the states as i will not be busting to see one at Dux.

curlyboy

Get the trident and VC-10 indoors first 😀 Then a F-117 as another fine tribute to the Skunk Works, and to the late Ben Rich?

I once heard that south Cambridgeshire Highways planning department were also once based at Groom, manned by aliens with a crazy ideas to destroy the whole world with service stations and slightly more pricey KFC!!

When I was at Wittering circa mid 1990’s there was one doing a series of touch and goes – where was that operating from?

Lakenheath.

When I was at Wittering circa mid 1990’s there was one doing a series of touch and goes – where was that operating from?

And what exactly is the relevance of the F-117 to UK aviation history?

I’m sure that it would make an interesting exhibit, but in my opinion, there are still British aircraft outside at Duxford that need to come in out of the rain, before bringing in even more American types.

I’m guessing SADSACK meant at the American Air Museum…
Unlike many of the AC there, it did not operate from the UK…neither did the Huey, Stearman, Navy F-4s…

BTW: I know that the type did visit USAF bases in the UK prior to its official announcement in 1988 or 89.

I guess in the AAM it would be fairly relevant – possibly more than a fibreglass
Mustang !

And what exactly is the relevance of the F-117 to UK aviation history?

I’m sure that it would make an interesting exhibit, but in my opinion, there are still British aircraft outside at Duxford that need to come in out of the rain, before bringing in even more American types.

what are the odds of Duxford getting an F117 when the type is retired?

Probably pretty good…though they might want/have to replace some of the sections with RAM as they did with the example at Wright-Patterson.

Me be serious? Never LoL Now david, you didnt mention if said Guard was twiddling his thumbs or not??? :diablo:

My interest was temporarily aroused by a thread I thought might be about the Nieuport Nighthawk.

Now Bex do be serious! – he is stood next to the Aurora – the Nighthawk is soo 80’s !