The result of a radical design philosophy which seeks to minimize the radar signature of an airplane, the F-117A features angular multi-faceted air frame panels designed to deflect, and in some case absorb, radar energy. The first of two prototypes made its initial flight in December, 1977, but both prototypes ultimately crashed, one in May, 1978, and the other in 1980. The first preproduction airplane flew for the first time on June 18, 1981, and the first F-117A was handed over to the USAF in August, 1982. The F-117A was declared operational in 1983, but the aircraft flew only at night from its secret base at Tonopah, 140 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada (often referred to as Area 51), to preserve program secrecy until late in 1989 when daytime flying began. (The Air Force hadn't confirmed the existence of this airplane until November, 1988.) The F-117A first went into action in December, 1989, as part of Operation Just Cause mounted by the US to remove from office General Manuel Noriega of Panama. Full vindication of the program came in January, 1991 with the Gulf Conflict, an F-117, able to get though the radar defenses, dropped the very first bomb of Operation Desert Storm on January 17, 1991. "Also was one of the first planes to fly over the Iraqi capital in 2003 to hit Strategic targets before Shock and Awe campaign in the Operation Iraqi Freedom".  The F-117A is powered by two 10,800-lb. thrust General Electric F404-GE-F102 turbofans, giving the airplane an estimated maximum speed Mach 1 and a normal operating speed Mach 0.9. Airplane armaments: under fuselage internal weapons, but can accommodate a full range of USAF tactical fighter ordnance, but principally two 2,000-lb. laser-guided bombs, or Maverick or AGM-89 HARM air-to-surface missiles. There is speculation that the F-117A's replacement airplane may already be flying. (If you're in the Nevada desert at night, watch the skies!)