The airfield where the F-117 and possibly others actually flew at

Was watching the Discovery Channel the other night, Secrets of Stealth was on. They said the USAF built a stealth base on the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada which is a little North East of Area 51, to test and fly the F-117. (and possibly the B-2 and Bird of Prey etc) Anyway, I'm sure a few people here already knew this, but figured most didn't.

TTR

TR on F-117 stabilizer

[edit on 26-2-2006 by NWguy83]

Actually, the Tonopah Test Range airfield (TTR or Area 52) has been well known since long before the F-117A was decalssified.

Speculative news reports about the rumored "Lockheed Stealth Fighter" in the mid 1980s sugested that at least one squadron of the secret airplanes was operating from TTR. This was not confirmed officially until sometime after the airplane was revelealed by the Department of Defense in November 1988.

A 5,000-foot airstrip was constructed at TTR in the 1960s for delivery of supplies to the Sandia National laboratories ballistics test range. Sandia Strip, as it was known, wasn't even equipped with runway lights until 1969. It was improved over the next few years with a visual omnirange (VOR) radio beacon and extended to 6,600 feet, with a 1,500-foot overrun.

In October 1979, the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron "Red Eagles" sponsored Phase I development of new airfield and support facilities . The original 6,600-foot runway was extended to 10,000 feet.

Phase II construction began in October 1980 and included expansion of the aircraft parking apron, construction of a taxiway, additional support facilities and infrastructure, and a 42,000-square-foot hangar.

Phase III construction, sponsored by the 4450th Tactical Group, began in March 1981 in preparation for operational test and evaluation of the F-117A.

The 4450th TG became the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing. Following Operation Desert Storm, the 37th TFW departed TTR for Hollloman AFB, New Mexico. The B-2 and Bird of Prey were never tested at TTR. The newest unit at TTR is the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron, activated in 2005.