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Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

Lockheed · Stealth aircraft · Retired from front-line service (2008)

The first operational stealth aircraft, faceted into shape by 1970s computers.

Length20.09 m
Wingspan13.2 m
Range1,720 km
MTOW24 t
Built64
First flight1981
Our numbers

Derived metrics

Computed by aircraft.fyi from the core specification — see how we calculate these.

Range per tonne#23 of 65
72.2 km/t maximum range ÷ MTOW in tonnes
Span-to-length ratio#60 of 68
0.66 wingspan ÷ fuselage length
Weight per metre#58 of 68
1.19 t/m MTOW ÷ fuselage length
Range in hours#55 of 65
1.7 h maximum range ÷ cruise speed
Sense of scale

How big is it, really?

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk's wingspan, against things you already know the size of.

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk13.2 m
Football pitch (width)68 m
Blue whale25 m
New Routemaster bus11.2 m
You (probably)1.75 m
Specification

The numbers

Length20.09 m
Wingspan13.20 m
Height3.78 m
MTOW23,814 kg
Max speed1,040 km/h
Range1,720 km
Crew1
First flight1981
Built64

Compare it

Put the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk next to something

Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Spot an error? business@luck.fyi

The story

What makes it different

Its flat panels exist because the era's radar-cross-section software could only solve flat plates. Subsonic and aerodynamically unstable without computer control.

Against a 13.20 m wingspan the Nighthawk carries 23,814 kg at maximum takeoff weight and reaches 1,040 km/h. First flight was 1981, and 64 were built.

Common questions

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk — the short answers

How fast is the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk?
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk cruises at about 1,040 km/h — roughly 562 knots, or 646 mph.
How far can the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk fly?
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk has a maximum range of about 1,720 km (929 nautical miles, 1,069 miles). At its cruise speed that is roughly 1.7 hours in the air.
Is the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk still in production?
Status: Retired from front-line service (2008). The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk first flew in 1981, and about 64 have been built.
How big is the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk?
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is 20.09 m long with a wingspan of 13.2 m and a height of 3.78 m. Its maximum takeoff weight is 23,814 kg.
Variants

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk line