Smithsonian Receives F-117A Stealth Fighter Jet

The historic aircraft known as The Overachiever arrives at the Udvar-Hazy Center for future public display.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Space

Smithsonian Receives F-117A Stealth Fighter Jet

Live Poll

Should retired military aircraft be preserved and displayed in public national museums?

On September 14, 2026, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum took possession of an F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter. The aircraft, nicknamed The Overachiever, was transported to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, via a C-5M Super Galaxy cargo plane.

Why it matters

The transfer brings this unique stealth aircraft into the permanent national collection to preserve its role in aviation history. The museum intends to highlight the jet as the only F-117A to participate in every major military operation in which the type flew.

The Overachiever completed 1,271 sorties during Operation Desert Storm with an 80% success rate, a record unmatched by other aircraft of its type. The Smithsonian currently anticipates that more than one million annual visitors will view the display.

The players

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

This institution serves as the world's largest museum and research complex dedicated to the history of aviation and spaceflight.

United States Air Force

This military branch is responsible for the aerial warfare capabilities and global reach of the United States.

The details

Before being loaded onto the transport plane, the aircraft underwent a restoration process to prepare it for museum exhibition. The F-117A fleet, which entered U.S. Air Force inventory in 1983, was retired from service in 2008, though roughly 48 units were still held in inventory as of January 2021.

1983: The F-117A entered the U.S. Air Force inventory.
2008: The U.S. Air Force retired the F-117A fleet.
January 2021: The Air Force retained 48 F-117A aircraft.
September 14, 2026: The Smithsonian took possession of The Overachiever.
Late October 2026: The aircraft is scheduled for public display.

The Big Picture

The addition of The Overachiever to the Smithsonian's permanent national collection extends the museum's mission of preserving critical aviation technology. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in documenting the evolution of stealth technology for future scientific study.

Visitors to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center can expect to see the restored aircraft starting in late October 2026. The exhibit will provide the public with a firsthand look at the specialized materials and design elements that defined early stealth aviation.

The takeaway

The preservation of The Overachiever ensures that the unique operational history of the F-117A program is available to future generations. Aviation enthusiasts can anticipate viewing this rare example of stealth engineering when the museum officially unveils the exhibit later this fall.

What happens next

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will open the F-117A aircraft for public viewing at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in late October 2026.