F-16 Fighting Falcon

Filling up on freedom - Lt. Col. Gary Middlebrooks gives a "thumbs up" after successfully refueling his F-16 Fighting Falcon from a KC-10 Extender in Southwest Asia. Aircraft from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing including the KC-10 and KC-135 Stratotanker, provide fuel for coalition aircraft missions for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Colonel Middlebrooks from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and is deployed from the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

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OVER NEVADA -- An F-16C Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., heads out for a mission over the Nevada Test and Training Ranges during Red Flag 04-3 here.

More than 100 aircraft and 2,500 participants are involved in this exercise. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the U.S. Air Force and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Gruenwald)

F-15E Strike Eagle

OVER THE NORTH SEA -- An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, banks away after receiving fuel during a training mission here July 19.

The F-15E Strike Eagle is considered the most advanced two-seat tactical aircraft in the world. The 'E's' radar system allows aircrews to pick out bridges and airfields on the radar display from distances more than 80 miles away. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tony R. Tolley)

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Sky patrol LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Maj. John Braun patrols the sky during a combat air patrol mission from here July 1. Pilots patrolled the sky over the Washington, D.C., area providing presidential support during the Fourth of July weekend.

Major Braun is an F-15 Eagle pilot with the 94th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

F-117 Nighthawk Stealth attack aircraft

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Stealth attack aircraft. NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- An F-117 Nighthawk flies over the Nevada desert. The unique design of the single-seat F-117 provides exceptional combat capabilities. The fighter can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a digital avionics suite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system developed, specifically, to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the Nighthawk. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron D. Allmon II)

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OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- An F-117 from the 8th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., flies over the Persian Gulf on April 14, 2003. The 8th EFS returned to Hollomann A.F.B. after having been deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derrick C. Goode)

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground-attack aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). Its first flight was in 1981. It achieved initial operating status in October 1983. The F-117 was "acknowledged" to the world in November 1988.

A product of Lockheed Skunk Works and a development of the Have Blue technology demonstrator, it became the first operational aircraft designed around stealth technology. The F-117A was publicized during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. It was commonly called the "Stealth Fighter" although it was a ground-attack aircraft.

The Air Force retired the F-117 on 22 April 2008. Sixty-four F-117s were built, 59 of which were production versions with five demonstrators / prototypes.

Four F-117 Nighthawks fly in formation during a sortie over the Antelope Valley March 28, 2007. After 25 years of history, the aircraft was retired. As the Air Force's first stealth fighter, the F-117 was capable of performing reconnaissance missions and bombing critical targets, all without the enemy's knowledge. F-117, tail number 783, was transported to Edwards AFB June 8 to be refurbished and be put on display in the future. It will be one of only four F-117s on display. (Photo by Bobbi Zapka)