Michigan’s Air Zoo Getting Its Own Stealth Fighter

Good news for military aircraft nerds (my hand is raised). The Air Zoo Museum in Kalamazoo is getting their own F-117 "Stealth Fighter" for display. This will be one of the few F-117s displayed  in a non-government controlled museum.

According to MLive.com, the Air Zoo's F-117 (which was called the "Stealth Fighter", but was really designed only as a ground attack aircraft), is nicknamed "Shaba" and should be at the Air Zoo museum later this year. The museum is open again now - and if you haven't been there, you owe it to yourself to see it someday soon.

The F-117 first flew in 1981, but it wasn't until 1988 that it was revealed publicly. It flew in combat in the Persian Gulf and the conflict in Yugoslavia. Only 59 production F-117s were built. They were retired in 2008 - or were they? A few have been seen flying as late as this spring. The F-117's stealth technology made it appear to be the size of a hummingbird on enemy radar. But the F-117's technology is already old news. The New B-21 bomber will appear to be the size of a mosquito.

Here's the story.