After combat experience in Vietnam revealed the vulnerability of aircraft to ground based defenses the U.S. military and contractors began work on the F-117 Nighthawk. Originally a top-secret black project the F-117 was developed by Lockheed`s famou s Skunk Works and represented explorations into aircraft design. Eventually the aircraft known as the Nighthawk was produced and entered service with American forces.While still classified the F-117 performed a series of combat missions in Panama an d flew a massive number of sorties during Operation Desert Storm. The F-117 was declassified in 1992 and was operational until 2008 with only one combat loss. This model recreates the details of the F-117 with superb accuracy and will be prized by any collector or enthusiast