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How the US Air Force's Attempt to Hide a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Crash Backfired Spectacularly
By Clare Fitzgerald,
1 day ago
During the summer of 1986, a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk crashed in Sequoia National Forest, California. Initially, the US Air Force tried to keep the incident under wraps. However, as public curiosity intensified, officials made efforts to disguise the aircraft's identity by swapping out parts of the crashed aircraft with those from a McDonnell F-101A Voodoo.
Ironically, these efforts only amplified the public's interest in the crash.
Mysterious crash in Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia trees damaged by wildfires that occurred in Sequoia National Forest in 2017. (Photo Credit: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images)
On July 11, 1986, the US Air Force carried out a test flight of the top-secret F-101A Voodoo. At approximately 2:00 AM, during a flight over Sequoia National Forest in California, the aircraft went down, resulting in the death of the pilot and igniting a 150-acre brush fire. Firefighters from Kern County and the US Forest Service worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control.
Following the crash, the Air Force quickly secured the area, designating it as restricted airspace. This was done to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the crash site and potentially discovering sensitive information about the newly developed aircraft.
At the time, the Kern County Sheriff's Office informed the public, "The whole area has been restricted, including the air space above the crash site. There will be military aircraft in the area, and anyone entering the area will be dealt with appropriately by the Air Force."
The Air Force issued an even more cryptic statement, merely acknowledging that a US military aircraft had crashed in Sequoia National Forest and that an investigation by a board of officers was underway. "That's the guidance we've been given from Washington," said Staff Sgt. Lorri Wray. "We can't give out any details."
When questioned, a Pentagon spokesperson said that the the crashed aircraft was "not a bomber."
Replacing the F-117 Nighthawk with an F-101A Voodoo
To keep the development of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk a secret, the US Air Force replaced the wreckage with that of a McDonnell F-101A Voodoo. (Photo Credit: USAF / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
US Air Force personnel swiftly began collecting debris from the wrecked F-117 Nighthawk. Soon after, they replaced the damaged aircraft with a downed F-101A Voodoo obtained from Area 51 in Nevada. Since the F-101A had been retired by both the Air Force in 1972 and the Air National Guard in 1982, it seemed like a fitting substitute.
The incident quickly drew public interest and sparked theories about the aircraft's origins. Many speculated it might have come from Edwards Air Force Base in California, which is roughly 65 miles from the crash site. This theory was supported by the base's extensive history of testing advanced aircraft, including prototypes, bombers, and modified conventional planes such as the Northrop F-20 Tigershark and Rockwell B-1 Lancer .
Sources incorrectly reveal the aircraft was an F-19
An article published by the Associated Press on the day of the crash featured insights from International Arms Combat editor Andy Lightbody, who revealed that unidentified sources had informed him the aircraft involved was an F-19. This largely speculative aircraft has never been officially recognized by the US Air Force but has achieved legendary status among military aviation enthusiasts.
The concept of a secret stealth aircraft called the "F-19" surfaced after the introduction of the F-20. Since the predecessor was the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, many expected the next fighter to be given the subsequent number in the series. When this did not occur, it sparked rumors of a hidden military project.
The Air Force quickly dispelled these rumors, explaining that the discrepancy resulted from Northrop's specific request for the Tigershark to be designated as the F-20. Nevertheless, some continue to speculate that the F-19 might have been under development, possibly assigned to Lockheed for production.
Unveiling the F-117 Nighthawk
Lockheed Martin presented the Have Blue to DARPA for consideration as the US Air Force's next stealth fighter. The prototype eventually became the F-117 Nighthawk. (Photo Credit: US Air Force / DARPA / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
Development of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk traces back to the 1970s, following a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) study that revealed the unexpected vulnerability of US-operated manned aircraft. This revelation led DARPA to initiate a competition for a new stealth fighter design, which was ultimately won by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works.
In 1981, after securing the contract, the F-117 performed its first test flight , with deliveries to the US Air Force beginning the following year. Despite becoming operational two years later, the stealth fighter remained highly secretive; the military only publicly acknowledged its development in 1988, and it wasn't until two years after that the aircraft was revealed to the public.
Throughout its service life, a total of 64 F-117s were built, including five prototypes. The aircraft saw action in the Gulf War and the Yugoslav Wars , with one downed by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) during the latter conflict.
The F-117 was officially retired in 2008, succeeded by the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor . Even in retirement, a fleet is meticulously maintained in airworthy condition.
F-117 Nighthawk specs
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk dropping a GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bomb during an exercise. (Photo Credit: MSGT EDWARD SNYDER / Defense Link / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
The F-117 Nighthawk was meticulously crafted to evade radar detection, featuring angled panels coated with radar-absorbing material, rendering it virtually invisible on radar screens. Propelled by two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofan engines, it boasted a top speed of Mach 0.92 and a range of 1,070 miles.
The stealth aircraft featured two internal weapons bays and each accommodated a hardpoint, allowing for a variety of munitions, including the B61 nuclear bomb, the GBU-31 JDAM INS/GPS guided munition and several laser-guided bombs, such as the GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-27 Paveway III and GBU-12 Paveway II, each with distinct warheads.
Additional notable features included a distinct V-tail design, air refueling capabilities and quadruple-redundant fly-by-wire flight controls, which were adapted from those used by the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon , F/A-18 Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress .
Primarily operated by the US Air Force, the F-117 was assigned to the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base; the 4450th Tactical Group and 37th Tactical Fighter Wing at the Tonopah Test Range, Nevada; and the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
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