Early F-117 stealth jets used unusual black colored drag chutes

January 20, 2014 Military Aviation

David Cenciotti

F-117 black chute — Image credit: Code One magazine

The image in this post is particularly interesting as it shows an F-117 Nighthawk pilot deploying an unsual black drag chute.

Since later photos show white chutes used by stealth jet’s pilots, according to Lockheed Martin’s Code One, this photo was likely taken in the early years (decades…) of the Nighthawk, when the plane secretly flew, mainly at night, using all kind of tricks to deceive indiscreet eyes.

59 production “Nighthawk” aircraft (one of those was lost to the Serbian Air Defense during “Operation Allied Force“) served with the U.S. Air Force until the type was officially retired in 2008.

Actually the type has been spotted flying again near Tonopah Test Range, Nevada.

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.