Military Aircraft
Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady
ICAO: U2
Overview
The Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk was a pioneering stealth attack aircraft developed to evade radar detection. Designed for precision strike missions, it introduced low observable technology into operational service. The aircraft entered service in the 1980s.
Live Fleet Activity (F117)
📡
Fetching live data…
Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofans
- Engine type
- Turbofan
- Thrust
- 2 × 10,600 lbf · 47 kN
- Avionics
- Kaiser Electronics head-up display
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 1
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- —
- Cabin height
- —
- Cabin length
- —
- Exterior length
- 65 ft 11 in · 20.08 m
- Tail height
- 12 ft 5 in · 3.78 m
- Fuselage diameter
- —
- Wing span
- 43 ft 4 in · 13.20 m
- Baggage volume
- —
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 52,500 lb · 23,800 kg
- Max landing weight
- —
- Max payload
- 5,000 lb · 2,250 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 2,850 gal · 10,700 L · 8,600 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 594 kt · 684 mph · 1,100 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- 150 kt · 173 mph · 278 km/h
- Range
- 930 nm · 1,070 mi · 1,720 km
- Fuel burn
- 0.33 nm/gal · 0.16 km/L
- Ceiling
- 69,000 ft · 21,000 m
- Rate of climb
- 3,000 ft/min · 15 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 6,200 ft · 1,890 m
- Landing distance
- 7,400 ft · 2,250 m
Gallery
(/)
tap to zoom
(/)
Live fleet activity details
📡
Operational Context
Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk — stealth attack aircraft
The F-117 first flew in 1981 under strict secrecy and entered operational service in 1983. Its faceted design reduced radar reflections and marked a new approach to combat aircraft development. The aircraft was optimized for nighttime precision bombing missions.
Powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines producing approximately 10,600 pounds of thrust (47 kN) each, the F-117 cruised at high subsonic speed. Maximum takeoff weight was roughly 52,500 pounds (23,800 kg). It carried precision-guided munitions internally to maintain stealth characteristics.
The Nighthawk saw combat in the Gulf War and subsequent conflicts. Its success demonstrated the operational value of stealth technology. The aircraft was officially retired in 2008, though it remains a landmark in aviation history.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.