The F-117 Nighthawk joins the “Spruce Goose” at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
October 10, 2023, McMinnville, Ore., — On November 11, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum welcomes the highly-anticipated arrival of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the famed stealth fighter plane known for its incredible radar-reflecting technology. The aircraft is the brainchild of Lockheed Skunk Works Director, Ben Rich, and is the world’s first operational stealth fighter. The arrival marks the first time the aircraft will be available for public viewing in the Museum setting alongside other celebrated and rare aircraft, like the Hughes H-4 Flying Boat, more commonly known as the “Spruce Goose” and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Guests are invited to come celebrate the F-117 in the Space Museum at 5:30 p.m. as we honor those who served on Veterans Day. The event will include experts presenting on the intricacies of the aircraft followed by a dramatic reveal and first look before it undergoes a multi-year restoration. Guests will be able to interact with the F-117 up close, a rare opportunity that not many have been able to do before. Tickets to this special event are $30, with half of each ticket sold supporting the restoration fund.
The tail number of this F-117 is 85-0816, and it has the unique nickname the “Lone Wolf.” The Lone Wolf was credited as dropping the first bomb in Desert Storm. Its first flight was on October 30, 1985, with its first combat operation taking place in Operation Just Cause. During its career, the aircraft flew 39 combat missions in Desert Storm and eight missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, before being retired on October 12, 2007.
“Few individuals have been lucky enough to see this aircraft in person and we have the unique privilege of being the only museum in the Pacific Northwest to provide this experience to our guests,” says Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum CEO Tyson Weinert. “Sharing the Lone Wolf’s restoration journey from this first moment adds a new dimension to our community engagement.”
The F-117 will endure a transportation journey on a trailer over hundreds of miles to make its arrival at the Museum. The aircraft has been specially assigned by the United States Air Force to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, one of about only five other F-117s available to view in museums throughout the United States. Although the Air Force technically retired the F-117 fleet in 2008, there are sightings of them still flying, even in the past year, showing that the plane is still a technological marvel today.
For more details about the F-117 arrival celebration, visit the Museum’s events page. To donate to the F-117 restoration process, visit the Evergreen donation page. For questions about the F-117 and the rest of the Evergreen collection, you can email publicity@evergreenmuseum.org or call (503) 434-4180.
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About the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is home to the iconic Hughes Flying Boat Spruce Goose and is recognized for its remarkable collection of aviation and spacecraft. Whether it’s viewing the rare, record-breaking SR-71 plane or experiencing the original launch room of the Titan II Space Launch Vehicle (SLV), Evergreen provides a space to explore and discover. As a 501(c) 3, we proudly partner with the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, the Oregon Space Consortium, and the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.
Discover more than 150 historic aircraft, spacecraft, and exhibits on display, along with artwork and traveling exhibits daily from 9 am – 5 pm. The Museum is located at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, across the highway from the McMinnville Airport and about three miles southeast of McMinnville, Ore., on Highway 18. To make a reservation, buy tickets, or learn more, please call (503) 434-4180 or visit www.evergreenmuseum.org. Follow @evergreenmuseum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.