Message posted by Peter Merlin on October 21, 2005 at 13:19:07 PST:
In November 1983, during a Change of Command ceremony at the SENIOR TREND Combined Test Force at Groom Lake, the third YF-117A (Article 782) was flown with a special color scheme. The entire underside was painted in an American flag motif. Only a few pictures of this event have been seen by the public. After more than 20 years of flight test service, Article 782 will retire following the Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show this weekend (22-23 October 2005). The airplane will make flight demonstrations both days and has been repainted in the U.S. flag paint scheme for the event. According to Lt. Col. Robert McAllum, 410th Flight Test Squadron commander, the airplane was repainted by members of the squadron who volunteered to donate their time and materials to the project. The airplane is scheduled to retire to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
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