F-117 weapons loaders compete for last time

[unhappycamper]

Staff Sgt. Alberto Vazquez and Senior Airman Adam Evans load a guided bomb unit-12 during the F-117 Nighthawk Weapons Load Crew of the Year Competition Jan. 18 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Vazquez, Evans and teammate Airman 1st Class Ray Wornat represented the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Unit during the competition.


F-117 weapons loaders compete for last time
Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Jan 29, 2008 19:07:59 EST

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — Weapons loaders for the F-117 Nighthawk, the groundbreaking stealth jet set to retire this year, competed Jan. 18 for the last time to determine which crew is the most efficient at fitting the jet with bombs.

The annual competition will be replaced in several years by a tournament to load the highly sophisticated F-22 Raptor.

But this month’s F-117 Nighthawk Weapons Load Crew of the Year contest was a last hoorah for the crews who ready the jets to fight.

The Nighthawk will officially retire in April with a desert ceremony at Holloman Air Force Base. The victorious weapons loading crew will be revealed in March at a Maintenance Group Professional of the Year banquet.

“It’s sad to see the F-117 go,” said Senior Airman Gino Colombari of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “But I am really excited to see the F-22 show up and what challenges it will present.”


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/01/airforce_f117_0129/