F-117 Stealth Aircraft

[Mossie]

Anyone know anything about this, a proposed RAF F-117C?



I found it browsing for the F-117X for another thread.  I've never heard about it before, I guess if it's not just a web rumour it was proposed for FOAS (it says Tornado GR.4 replacement in the blurb).  A possible destination for the F-117 when the USAF retire theirs?

Note the differences to the F-117A, all clear canpoy, new intakes, F414 or EJ200 powerplant, possibility of lower sweep wings similar to F-117X.

Unlikely I think, but thought provoking.....

[GTX]

Don't have any details - though the rumours about upgraded F-117s being offered to the RAF have been around for ages.  Here is a crude side view:



Regards,

Greg

[Archibald]

Ideas are coming, guys! I've got an old F-117, buble canopies from Heller, French British, and many others countries roundels... maybe a surprise this week... just love this forum for that!!!  

[GeorgeC]

Yep, 1995 puts it firmly in the early stages of the FOAS studies, back in the days when it was planned to replace the Tornado after about 30 years in service (2010) rather than the likely 45-50 years.  This rather nice picture goes with all those wacky AVPRO(?) drawings of x wings and ucavs flying off nuclear powered stealth carriers.  I do think that the F117 was considered by the Air Staffs, back in the days when we had people there with time but no budget, and this is a little like those USN carrier versions.

Given that 'niche' capabilities and costs of the F117, to get an RAF roundel on it one would have to imagine the Cold War running on and perhaps a small batch purchase of 20-30 aircraft to give a cutting-edge capability on the first wave.  I would have thought that an A12 would have been more likely for a bulk replacement of Tornado, assuming funding was in place to continue development and enough UK content could have been inserted in the programme.              

[Hobbes]

F-117 variant I built a while ago

[Mossie]

George, some of the pics of Avpro projects can be found in this thread:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...=12094&hl=avpro  I've bumped it up to make it easier to find.

And I thought I'd post some of the better ones just because it's nice to see them again:


Avpro FOAS 1 manned/unmanned concept, like platforms.


Avpro FOAS 2 manned/unmanned concept, unlike platforms.


Avpro Future Carrier Borne Aircraft


Avpro Avenger VTOL UCAV


Avpro Archangel UCAV

Like the model of your RAF F-117 Hobbes!

[GeorgeC]

George, some of the pics of Avpro projects can be found in this thread:

Ah yes those are exactly the ones I was thinking of.  I am reminded of Blackadder's sketch of the German lines 'Perhaps there were fewer elephants..'
 

[Mossie]

Ah, it all comes back to me now!    I love Blackadder, especially Blackadder Goes Forth, it really puts war into context.

Theres a few more Avpro concepts with some three views here (a few from other manufacturers too): http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/future/uavs.htm

[Shasper]

Try to dig up  WAPJ no. 14 (or is it 24? IDR), it's main focus is on the 117 & it should mention all the proposed versions, including the RAF bird.

Shas B)

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Don't have any details - though the rumours about upgraded F-117s being offered to the RAF have been around for ages.  Here is a crude side view:

That crude side view looks pretty good.  I was wondering about the bubble canopy and how that would look.  While I was in my "man cave" this afternoon I was sorting through parts that I had boxed for a kit bash of a 1/72nd scale Italeri F-15 fuselage with the wings from the Airfix F-22 and spotted the canopy part in the box.  I took a good look at that piece and realized that it looks a lot like the bubble canopy that is portrayed in the drawing.  

Anyone interested in getting that part for a conversion?

[Mossie]

Yeah, you're right Jerry, the YF-22 canopy has a definate 'shape' compared to the F-22's rounded canopy, it'd probably work well enough.  You can still get kits of the YF-22 out there, Italeri's is available through Hannants & you still see the Airfix kit pop up from time to time.  Testors do a 1/32 YF-22 as well.

[Archibald]

and Heller    

[elmayerle]

Yeah, you're right Jerry, the YF-22 canopy has a definate 'shape' compared to the F-22's rounded canopy, it'd probably work well enough.  You can still get kits of the YF-22 out there, Italeri's is available through Hannants & you still see the Airfix kit pop up from time to time.  Testors do a 1/32 YF-22 as well.

I've got a couple Testors YF-22 kits that will be parted out for other projects.  I can make one canopy available.

[Archibald]

I'm more and more tempted to do it, guys! I have an A-10 canopy which seems to fit well (albeit the framed windshield is not the best thing...).

[Archibald]

I did it this afternoon! here some pics