Stealth gets royal visit

  • Published
  • By Mr. Tommy Fuller
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, United Kingdom --  When the 49th Fighter Wing's Demonstration Team set up a static display aircraft at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, England July 14 and 15, they had no idea they would attract the eye of Britain's royal family. 

On the second day of the international air show, Prince Michael of Kent got an up-close look at the stealth fighter when he stopped by the F-117 Demo Team's static display. 

Used to getting attention, the team has traveled thousands of miles each air show season to display the Nighthawk at aviation events around the country and at a few overseas venues. They have given tours of the stealth fighter to politicians and celebrities, but the Fairford air show gave them a unique and royal experience when the Queen's first cousin paid them a visit. 

"On Saturday during the air show, a gentleman and a lady who work for Prince Michael came by the stealth and asked to talk to me about bringing him over for a quick tour of the airframe," said Lt. Col. Pete York, lead F-117A pilot for the team. "He had time for about four different aircraft and he wanted to look at the stealth." 

Hand-picked and specially trained, the men of the Demo Team prepare the stealth fighters for flight, set up the static displays and stand by the aircraft signing autographs and answering questions about the black jet. During the two-day RIAT, they spoke with hundreds of aviation enthusiast who flocked around the F-117 static display. But, no one expected a royal visit.

"You never really think about royalty." said Tech. Sgt. Nathan Knox, noncommissioned officer in charge of the F-117 Demo Team. "We see VIPs all the time - Senators and so forth - and take them around the aircraft all the time. But to be with British royalty was truly a treat." 

Colonel York and Sergeant Knox greeted the Prince when he stopped by the F-117A static display on the second day of the air show. Colonel York then took his royal highness on a personal tour of the aircraft as dozens of air show attendees watched and snapped photographs of the historic event from behind a security cordon. 

At the end of the 15-minute show-and-tell, Colonel York said the prince seemed grateful for the chance to walk up to the stealth fighter. 

"He was a charming gentleman, very down to earth, humble and he loves aviation. He knows a fair amount about it and was able to ask some pretty penetrating questions," said Colonel York. "He asked one of my favorite questions from the air show as a whole, a fairly standard question: 'Where's the exhaust?' He also asked about the stealthy capabilities of the jet, what it was built to do, what are its strengths and weaknesses. He admired the good shape the jet was in which we owe in large part to the maintainers on the team." 

According to Sergeant Knox, Fairford was the first overseas international show for this year's F-117 Demonstration Team, made up himself and six Airmen from the 49th Maintenance Group: Staff Sgts. Brian Donovan, Jody Daniels, Jason Yeargin, Mike Melody, Santos Montalvo, Oscar Vega. 

Because of the overseas location and the importance of the event, the team was augmented by other support specialists bringing the team's total number to 22, said Sergeant Knox. 

"With this trip we added some extra people for support: logistics readiness people for our equipment, public affairs, security and back-shop people to help in case we have bigger issues with the aircraft," he said. "But we didn't have any issues. Everything flowed well." 

Looking back at the RIAT experience, the Holloman team was well received and got many good comments about the F-117 presentation, said Sergeant Knox. 

"The show was huge," said Colonel York. "Since Sunday's weather was supposed to be bad, only two-thirds of the expected crowd showed up. Still about 170,000 is what a local newspaper said attended." 

In addition to the static display, the Holloman team was able to fly a demonstration on both days of the air show despite the infamous wet weather often experienced in Southern England. 

"Basically, we pulled out the static display aircraft then went to get the flier aircraft ready. Then we would stand next to the static to answer questions. When it was time to fly, we would split the time and send members over to launch the demonstration aircraft. Then, when it landed, we went right back to the static where we answered questions for the rest of the day." 

Sharing the flying duties and also talking to the crowd were Colonel York and four other pilots from the 49th Operations Group: Capts. Matt Busch, Michael Driscol, Nathan Keethler and Kevin Hall. 

The mission of the Fairford Air Show team was to represent the United States, the U.S. Air Force and the 49th Fighter Wing, said Colonel York. 

"We also represented a success story for the stealth fighter - 25 years of stealth history - a huge success story of American industry and innovation. Lastly, we represented a
whole bunch of people at Holloman Air Force Base who make this type of mission work. And when it comes off as well as it did, it's sure something to be proud of."