The F-117 Nighthawk was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft, ushering in a revolution in airpower that continues to this very day. But after 25 years of service, the F-117 Nighthawk’s career came to a close in 2008 when the aircraft was officially retired… Or at least, that was the story.It turns out, claims that the Nighthawk was retiring were greatly exaggerated. Let’s dive into the timeline of F-117 sightings post-retirement, the claims that it saw combat in 2017, and why the Air Force now plans to keep the Nighthawk flying all the way to 2034.