Lockheed F-117 A Nighthawk kit

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk is considered the first combat aircraft capable of almost completely nullifying radar detection. This is achieved through a special contour and the use of special materials. The fuselage profile avoids all angular finishes and the surface is covered with a special layer of synthetic electrically conductive dipoles, prepared for a certain radar frequency. The air intakes and exhaust outlets are also covered for the same purpose. Some parts are only accessible if this layer is removed.

The outer covering is manually applied and differs significantly from one aircraft to another, making repairs difficult as each part has to be treated individually.

Development of the F-117 began in December 1978, and the aircraft was officially called the F-19 to distinguish it from other development projects. After two smaller prototypes, the F-117 made its first flight on June 18, 1981, in Nevada. Although classified as a fighter, the new aircraft was a light bomber with laser-guided bombs capable of attacking very specific targets.

The Nighthawk carried out its first mission on December 19-20, 1989, when six aircraft from the 37th Fighter Wing attacked Panama in the "Just Cause" operation.

On January 12, 1991, Nighthawks from the 37th Fighter Wing began the first Gulf War in the "Desert Storm" operation. They were so successful in their night missions that they earned the nickname "Ghosts of Baghdad." In subsequent US military operations, Nighthawks from the 49th Fighter Wing also played a very important role, both in Kosovo and the second Gulf War, helping to neutralize many enemy targets.

One of the weaknesses of the F-117A is that its design does not allow it to exceed the speed of sound. Higher speeds reached during changes in altitude were electronically limited, which prevented the angular surfaces from being as successfully undetectable. The introduction of the F-22A Raptor marked the end of the F-117A Nighthawk. Production began to be phased out in 2007, but 50 of the 59 aircraft produced were still in active service. The planes were disassembled and stored to prevent their valuable technological secrets from being revealed. To celebrate its last flight, the F-117A Nighthawk from the 49th Fighter Wing was decorated with special stars and stripes on the underside of the fuselage. The story of this US Air Force bomber fighter ended on April 21, 2008, when this aircraft landed for the last time.

Technical specifications

• Wingspan: 13.20m
• Length: 20.08m
• Height: 3.78m
• Engines: 2 x General Electric F-404-F1D2
• Thrust: 48.06kN each
• Empty weight: 13,381kg
• Max takeoff weight: 23,814kg
• Max speed: 1,040km/h
• Normal range: 1,112km
• Service ceiling: 15,560m
• Armament: 2 GBU-Paceway II or GBU-27 or 2,268kg of bombs
• Crew: 1

Kit specifications:

• Number of parts: 71
• Model length: 416mm
• Model wingspan: 277mm
• Scale: 1:48
• Assembly difficulty: Medium

Paints not included. These are the paints required for this model kit:

• ENAMEL PAINT, LIGHT GREY
• ENAMEL PAINT RAL 9011, BLACK
• ENAMEL PAINT RAL 7003, OLIVE GREEN
• ENAMEL PAINT, STEEL
• ENAMEL PAINT RAL 9001, WHITE