F-117A Nighthawk Goes on Display at Palm Springs Air Museum

The F-117 Nighthawk #833, nicknamed “Black Devil,” went on display over the weekend at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Photo via Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun


The Palm Springs Air Museum now has another iconic aircraft on display within its already impressive collection; Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk 85-0833 Black Devil was installed over the weekend at the museum’s new, specially designed exhibit in the Jim Houston Pavilion. The aircraft has actually been on site since Saturday, October 3rd, 2020, receiving a ‘water arch’ greeting from the Palm Springs Fire Department as part of its retirement ceremony. One of only 59 produced, the aircraft arrived with a bare metal exterior, having had its radar-absorbent cladding removed during demilitarization. The museum has used the interim to refurbish the airframe and prepare its new exhibit space.

Palm Springs Air Museum F 117
Black Devil receiving its water cannon salute during its arrival ceremony at Palm Springs in October, 2020. According to Fred Bell, vice chairman of the museum’s board of directors, the rare aircraft is one of just four operational F-117s Nighthawks on public display.

Black Devil logged some 5,140 flight hours during its U.S. Air Force career. It took part in numerous combat operations, particularly over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and the Balkans as part of Operation Allied Force, where the aircraft served as the 49th Wing commander’s personal mount. The museum’s new exhibit, featuring the Nighthawk and related artifacts, will lead visitors from the type’s secret development at Lockheed’s legendary ‘Skunkworks’ plant through its operational deployments and its still-murky present role in aiding the design of future stealth-related technology.

For more information please visit www.palmspringsairmuseum.org

 

Moreno-Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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About Moreno Aguiari 3366 Articles
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

2 Comments

    • Many thanks for your comment… a quick check with the museum should reveal the availability of the Nighthawk for viewing, but it is on longterm loan at the facility, so it should normally be open to visitors at the Palm Springs Air Museum once they have completed working on it (and likely earlier).

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