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‘Bat Plane’ spotted

Chris Carter
F-117 Nighthawk headed for at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif. after touching down on Sept. 15, 2021. The F-117 Nighthawks are participating in dissimilar air combat training missions this week along with F-15 pilots from the 144th Fighter Wing. (Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jason Sanchez)

Two semi-retired F-117A Nighthawks dropped in last week at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (Fresno, Calif.). Both aircraft sported the “TR” tail code, indicating they are stationed at the Tonopah (Nev.) Test Range. According to an Air Force press release, the USAF currently has 48 F-117s which are maintained where they could be recalled to front-line service within 30-120 days. Occasionally these jets are utilized for training purposes, such as Red Flag exercises, and in this case are training with the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing, which flies the McDonnell Douglas F-15 C/D Eagle.

A 144th Fighter Wing F-15 Eagle flies over the skies of Fresno, Calif. on Nov., 7, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Roy Santana/Released)

While the stealth fighters are maintained in a flyable condition, each year the Air Force retires four F-117s permanently, and the once futuristic planes become static displays or museum exhibits.

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