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Lockheed F117A Stealth Fighter in
aviation art prints by Ivan Berryman and Michael Rondot. Lockheed F117A
stealth fighter art prints available from the aviation art company, a
subsidiary of Cranston Fine Arts.
The extraordinary Lockheed F.117A Stealth fighter proved
an awesome sight when at last it was revealed to the world in 1990,
and it was soon to distinguish itself in combat in the deserts of the
Middle East during the Iraqi campaign of 1991. Predator
depicts an example of this inspired machine at altitude against an evening
sun, benign and at the same time menacing, an intriguing testament to
mans conquest and exploitation of the skies.
The F-117A was developed by the Lockheed Advanced
Development Projects team, better known as the Skunk Works. This was a
top secret program, and the aircraft flew for several years before its
existence was known to the public. Early work on the project began in
1977 with the development of two 60% scale aircraft. Under the code name
Have Blue the two prototype scale
aircraft were built in a matter of months at Lockheeds Burbank facility.
The first test flight was made in early 1978 by Bill Park. The Have Blue
aircraft proved undetectable by any airborne radar in existence other
than that on an E-3 AWACS. The F-117A was authorized into production in
1978. It is one of the most unique looking aircraft in the world because
it was designed as a stealth aircraft. It is made of geometrically flat
panes with sharply swept wings. The facing of the aircrafts fuselage
results in the disbursement of much of the radar energy which strikes
the F-117A. Radar absorbing materials are used throughout and the
propulsion system was ingeniously designed to dramatically reduce the
aircrafts infrared footprint. The F-117A is a fairly large bird for a
single seat aircraft with its 65 ft length and 43 ft wingspan. It
reportedly handles well with flight characteristics similar to other
delta wing aircraft like the F-106. The F-117A is capable of high
subsonic flight (646 MPH) and has a range of approximately 1000 miles.
The aircraft is equipped for aerial refueling. The F-117A is powered by
two GE F404-F1D2 engines which are non-after burning versions of the
engines used in the F/A-18. The bomb capacity is a total of 4,000
pounds. Designed to operate as a covert aircraft providing surgical
first strikes against heavily defended radar and communications centers
the F-117A was put to the test during Operation Desert Storm. The 37th
Tactical Fighter Wing, under the command of USAF Col. Alton C. Whitley,
Jr., flew the first strike
missions against Baghdad, hitting important communications and control
centers, radar sites, and antiaircraft batteries. Utilizing laser guided
2,000 LB bombs, about thirty F-117As participated in the first nights
attacks. Despite an enormous amount of anti-aircraft fire, the F-117As
under Whitleys command carried out their missions flawlessly, and not a
single aircraft was lost to enemy fire. The Stealth fighters blinded the
eyes and crushed the nerve centers of the Iraqi Air Forces during these
missions, making it possible for other aircraft to carry out their
missions with less likelihood of Iraqi opposition. A total of 1,271
sorties were flown by F-117As with a success rate of 80% during the war.
One of the more impressive attacks was captured on film and showed a
deep penetration laser guided bomb being guided through the top of an
elevator shaft on the roof of the ten-story building which housed the
Iraqi Air Forces headquarters. The bomb penetrated deep into the
structure before detonating and blowing out all four walls of the
structure. While the F-117A is no longer a secret weapon, its
effectiveness may hopefully serve as a deterrent to future possible
conflicts.
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| Killer Bs by Stan Stokes. High altitude strategic bombing played a major role during WW II, and in the Cold War era which followed long-range, high altitude, bombers would continue to be a focus area. The Convair B-36 represented a transitional aircraft between the WW II era aircraft and the supersonic jets that would follow. Convairs B-58 Hustler was extremely fast, but the downing of Gary Powers U-2 in 1960 pointed out the possible vulnerability of all high flying bombers despite their speed. The B-58 was phased out as cost ineffective, and the backbone of Americas manned strategic bomber force became the Boeing B-52. The B-52 has had an unprecedented life span. With improved avionics and the ability to launch cruise missiles hundreds of miles away from the ultimate target, the B-52 remained viable for decades longer than expected. The Rockwell B-1 bomber, the aircraft planned to replace the aging B-52, had a very long and controversial gestation period. The B-1 was planned to thwart Soviet air defenses by carrying a nuclear payload to its target at treetop levels and at speeds in excess of 900-MPH. Originally conceived in 1965 the initial procurement contract was awarded in 1970 with the first flight occurring in 1974. At one point 244 B-1 Lancers were planned, but the B-1 program was cancelled during the Carter Administration with only five aircraft completed. In 1982, the B-1 was resurrected during President Reagans term. One hundred aircraft, at a cost of $28 billion (or $280 million each) were ordered. The first operational B-1 reached the Strategic Air Command in 1985. One hundred of these large aircraft have been produced. With an extended wingspan of 137 feet the B-1B is capable of operating from shorter airfields than normal, and with its wings in their fully swept position the aircraft can reach speeds approaching Mach 1.5. The B-1 can carry a whopping weapons load of more than 60 tons. It can fly at very low altitude and launch multiple cruise missiles at targets hundreds of miles away. The B-1 was the worlds most expensive aircraft at the time of its production, but that title now belongs to the B-2 stealth bomber, which costs almost 9 times that of a B-1, or upwards of $2.5 billion a copy. Compared to the B-1 , the smaller Northrop B-2 uses technology to hide itself from opposing air defenses. The B-2 has many similarities to the line of flying wings pioneered by Jack Northrop in the 1940s. The B-1 Lancer was first utilized in combat during bombing raids against Iraq. Reconfigured to carry convention weapons the B-1s typically carries up to 84 Mk-82 nonprecision bombs plus 30 anti-tank cluster bombs. This allowed the B-1 to attack Iraqi tank battalions with devastating results. B-1s were utilized in Yugoslavia, as is the B-2, which was first used in combat in March of 1999 – flying, non-stop from Missouri to Yugoslavia to bomb key Serbian military command and control targets. Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00  Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE STK0152 |
| Second Wave to Baghdad by Stan Stokes. The F-117A was developed by the Lockheed Advanced Development Projects team, better known as the Skunk Works. This was a top secret program, and the aircraft flew for several years before its existence was known to the public. Early work on the project began in 1977 with the development of two 60% scale aircraft. Under the code name Have Blue the two prototype scale aircraft were built in a matter of months at Lockheeds Burbank facility. The first test flight was made in early 1978 by Bill Park. The Have Blue aircraft proved undetectable by any airborne radar in existence other than that on an E-3 AWACS. The F-117A was authorized into production in 1978. It is one of the most unique looking aircraft in the world because it was designed as a stealth aircraft. It is made of geometrically flat panes with sharply swept wings. The facing of the aircrafts fuselage results in the disbursement of much of the radar energy which strikes the F-117A. Radar absorbing materials are used throughout and the propulsion system was ingeniously designed to dramatically reduce the aircrafts infrared footprint. The F-117A is a fairly large bird for a single seat aircraft with its 65 ft length and 43 ft wingspan. It reportedly handles well with flight characteristics similar to other delta wing aircraft like the F-106. The F-117A is capable of high subsonic flight (646 MPH) and has a range of approximately 1000 miles. The aircraft is equipped for aerial refueling. The F-117A is powered by two GE F404-F1D2 engines which are non-after burning versions of the engines used in the F/A-18. The bomb capacity is a total of 4,000 pounds. Designed to operate as a covert aircraft providing surgical first strikes against heavily defended radar and communications centers the F-117A was put to the test during Operation Desert Storm. The 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, under the command of USAF Col. Alton C. Whitley, Jr., flew the first strike missions against Baghdad, hitting important communications and control centers, radar sites, and antiaircraft batteries. Utilizing laser guided 2,000 LB bombs, about thirty F-117As participated in the first nights attacks. Despite an enormous amount of anti-aircraft fire, the F-117As under Whitleys command carried out their missions flawlessly, and not a single aircraft was lost to enemy fire. The Stealth fighters blinded the eyes and crushed the nerve centers of the Iraqi Air Forces during these missions, making it possible for other aircraft to carry out their missions with less likelihood of Iraqi opposition. A total of 1,271 sorties were flown by F-117As with a success rate of 80% during the war. One of the more impressive attacks was captured on film and showed a deep penetration laser guided bomb being guided through the top of an elevator shaft on the roof of the ten-story building which housed the Iraqi Air Forces headquarters. The bomb penetrated deep into the structure before detonating and blowing out all four walls of the structure. While the F-117A is no longer a secret weapon, its effectiveness may hopefully serve as a deterrent to future possible conflicts. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00 Signed by USAF Col Alton Whitley. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 25 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE STK0149 |
| Predator by Ivan Berryman. The extraordinary Lockheed F.117A Stealth fighter proved an awesome sight when at last it was revealed to the world in 1990, and it was soon to distinguish itself in combat in the deserts of the Middle East during the Iraqi campaign of 1991. Predator depicts an example of this inspired machine at altitude against an evening sun, benign and at the same time menacing, an intriguing testament to mans conquest and exploitation of the skies. Signed limited edition of 200 prints. Special Promotion - This item is 30% Off! Image size 18 inches x 8 inches (46cm x 20cm). Price £43.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Save £5 on selected prints - Was £48
ITEM CODE B0029 |
| Black Jet by Michael Rondot. Designed and built in the early 1980s at the Lockheed Skunk Works under conditions of intense secrecy, the F-117A Stealth fighter was not revealed to the public until 1990, after it had been in service for over 7 years. A year later during Operation Desert Storm, laser-guided precision bombing images from the cockpits of Black jets over downtown Baghdad were on every television screen and newspaper front page around the world. Night after night, the theory of an aircraft designed to evade radar detection was tested by brave pilots in combat over densely packed Iraqi radar-directed air defences. The results, together with the aircraft and its pilots, are now legend. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £95.00 Signed by 24 operational F-117A pilots from the 49th Fighhter Wing, Holloman AFB : Lt Col Bill Aten, Maj Dan Backuhus, Cap Matt McKeon, Capt Jack Mayo, Sqn Ldr Chris Topham, Capt Damian McCarthy, Capt Kevin Tarrant, Capt Dave Wooden, Capt John Jerakis, Capt Jake Shepherd, Capt Pete Hunt, Capt Charlie Hainline, Maj Steve Edgar, Capt George Biondi, Capt Marcus Cooper, Capt Gregg Nesemeier, Sqn Ldr Ian Wood, Capt Mike Senna, Capt Chris Williams, Capt Zane Morris, Capt Bobby Concannon, Capt Rich Steckbeck, Capt Larry Alicz and Capt Eddie Osteen.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £150.00 Signed by 24 operational F-117A pilots from the 49th Fighhter Wing, Holloman AFB : Lt Col Bill Aten, Maj Dan Backuhus, Cap Matt McKeon, Capt Jack Mayo, Sqn Ldr Chris Topham, Capt Damian McCarthy, Capt Kevin Tarrant, Capt Dave Wooden, Capt John Jerakis, Capt Jake Shepherd, Capt Pete Hunt, Capt Charlie Hainline, Maj Steve Edgar, Capt George Biondi, Capt Marcus Cooper, Capt Gregg Nesemeier, Sqn Ldr Ian Wood, Capt Mike Senna, Capt Chris Williams, Capt Zane Morris, Capt Bobby Concannon, Capt Rich Steckbeck, Capt Larry Alicz and Capt Eddie Osteen.
ITEM CODE MRX0002 |
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