Gathering of Eagles celebrates F-117A test program

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The Lockheed Martin F-117A was the first operational stealth combat aircraft. Its unique faceted shape, combined with special radar
absorbent materials, rendered it nearly invisible to enemy radar.                                                                                                                                                                                            AEROTECH NEWS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 AND REVIEW
by Peter W. Merlin                                                        The F-117A was the first combat aircraft designed to be virtually
special to Aerotech News                                               invisible to hostile air defenses.                                                                                                                                      Latest News • Veteran resources • Military Discounts

   The Flight Test Historical Foundation hosted the Gathering of          Designers at Lockheed’s Advanced Development Projects di-                                                                                                                     search for Aerotech News
Eagles Oct. 1 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster,         vision, famously known as the Skunk Works and now a part of
Calif.                                                                 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, used sophisticated tech-
                                                                       niques involving radar-absorbent material coatings and structures,
   The annual event celebrates significant events in flight-test his-  advanced avionics and structural shaping to render the airplane low
tory.                                                                  observable or “stealthy” to radar and infrared sensors. Developed
                                                                       as a clandestine “black” program during the late 1970s, tested in
   This year’s program honored the team that successfully accom-       the early 1980s, and subsequently deployed to operational units,
plished the first flight of the Lockheed Martin F-117A Nighthawk       the F-117A remained a closely guarded secret for many years. The
some 35 years ago, and shepherded the revolutionary stealth fighter    first flight took place June 18, 1981, and was piloted by Harold C.
through developmental testing.                                         “Hal” Farley.

   Honorees named as Eagles this year included test pilots Hal            Hal Farley became a naval aviator in 1959 and later worked as
Farley, Skip Anderson, Jon Beesley, Tom Morgenfeld and the late        a test pilot for Grumman Aircraft Corporation He joined Lockheed
Dave Ferguson. Larry McClain and Pete Winters, who served as
the first two commanders of the responsible test organization, were                                                       See GOE, Page 3
named honorary co-chairmen of the event.

October 7, 2016 • Volume 30, Issue 15                                  Serving the aerospace industry since 1986                                                                                                                               Use your smartphone to connect to
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