F-117 Nighthawk Pilot Jon Boyd Interview

We invited retired Lt Col Jon Boyd out for the arrival of "Dark Angel" that he had named when it was assigned to him during Desert Storm. Boyd shares his early interest in aviation, what it's like to become a Nighthawk pilot, and his feelings towards F-117 #810 while in service till now as it's prepared to be displayed at Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
Video credit to Boneyard Safari.

[@skid2151]

Bandit 448 checking in. Thanks for the excellent history of 810. Checked my log books and I flew 810 four times while stationed at Holloman. Cheers!

[@Taskforce1]

it's so cool to see you and people like you cadidly comment. it's dope getting a little bit of insight into your guy's experiences - experiences that without your words we'd no little to nothing about. thank you for sharing and thank you for your service.

[@767engineer]

Crewed 810 and the dragon for a year before moving to AR. Good times

[@isaacmartinez2102]

I fondly remember growing up in Las Cruces, and always seeing the Nighthawks flying over the city. My parents would also take us and park across the street from Holloman AFB. We would watch the Nighthawks take off and land, it was awesome. I remember that we saw a desert camo painted one a few times. Great times

[@Rocketman88002]

I lived in Alamogordo and worked at H.A.F.B. and W.S.M.R. for thirty-six years. One contractor I worked for did highly classified tracking missions of the 117'. Many neighbors were connected to the F-117 program in various capacities and my sister was at Beale A.F.B. on the F-117 till close of program and shortly after retired. There was a lot of commotion about the 117' that went down on approach to 04/22? Not far from the La Luz gate. Nice bio Colonel. I'm a former ADA officer......the guys you probably got to know well when deployed to a combat theater. Thank you for your service, Sir!

[@chief8388]

Thank you Lt Col Jon Boyd for your exemplary service. Thank ALL of you Soldiers for your service.

[@cozysouth]

I was a controller at ZAB and controlled this aircraft many times. The pilots were always a pleasure to work while they were flying their practice bomb runs on multiple targets in the area. Very professional and flexible. Thanks for your service sir!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Can't wait to see this restored and on display! PIMA is a fantastic museum!

[@garymountcastle6657]

Visited the museum twice on work related trips. Liked Tucson and loved the museum.

[@thomasfx3190]

Sir, I was an Army National Guard artillery officer stateside during the gulf war, and only knew of the ‘Wobbly Goblin’ in passing. After the first night of the air war in the gulf I knew I had chosen poorly to be standing on the ground lobbing artillery shells when guys my age were flying that beautiful thing. What a magical aircraft! Thanks for the tour!

[@cherylduhon6448]

I worked at Petroleum Helicopters Inc from 1973 to 1979 and used to know Jon and his dad Rocky. I would go up with Rocky whenever I had the chance and he was test flying a helicopter. I also worked with Jon for a little while in the overhaul shop while he was in college. I had heard that he had flown the 117 and was glad to know he was able to do that in his career. I,ve thought about him and his dad since those days many of times and was glad to know both of them. He's a spitting image of his dad. Good people. Dan Duhon, Carencro, Louisiana.

[@LJDRVR]

I was lucky enough to fly with Bob Temkow back in 2007. What an amazing, gentleman and honorable, stand-up aviator.

[@flyjarrett]

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Wayne Gretzky” - Michael Scott - Jon Boyd

[@jensonhartmann3630]

only legends can quote The Great One lol

[@RedFail1-1]

Were they both talking to Wayne Gretzky? Or did you just write it incorrectly I'm also pretty sure you're thinking of John Boyd. This is not him.

[@flyjarrett]

@@RedFail1-1 it’s a joke from The Office.

[@kinch613]

Funny the two jets I worked on are right there. The BUFF B-52 and that same F-117A. I fixed this Bandit’s ejection seats. Miss them both. Colonel Whitley may not have been super popular with some, but he brought EVERY one and every jet home!

[@blueelectricfusion]

volunteer.... I am sure they need help putting it back together from memory. since everything else is classified.

[@reaganpenner7371]

Thanks for sharing your story. The 117 is truly an amazing aircraft, to have flown one in combat must have been top of the world and yet Jon comes across as such a humble man. Cheers to you Jon!

[@windyboy78]

How amazing you are reunited with your ol plane! Looks pretty stripped, but still such a cool story!

[@aviationworld8939]

What a great story. Thank you Lt Col Jon Boyd!

[@bumpedhishead636]

I worked at Lockheed on the F-117 & F-22 simulators from '84-'87. Great airplane, fun to fly in the simulator! I remember being briefed on the intense mission planning that went into each of the F-117 missions to snake a path through the SAM & AA cannon radar sites while keeping the plane in an attitude of the lowest possible observable radar cross-section.

[@dannoringer]

I loved hearing the pilots story. Having served in the USAF about 50 years ago, it was something that I could relate with. I've visited the museum, but it's been a few years, and I think I need to go back for another look. Thanks for this video !!

[@helicoptersandmore5519]

This was truly amazing to hear this story especially to hear how he got into aviation! Great video!😎🤙🔥

[@JohnS-ps9jv]

Wow, really enjoyed the information Col Boyd, thank you for your service too!

[@sandarbian3947]

Nice to see my old childhood friend Jon. In the third grade I was just about the smallest kid while Jon was just about the biggest one. I wasn't stupid and we were friend from then till he went into the Air Force and we lost track. Knew Jon was flying F-117 and I was proud of his accomplishments. And "Dark Angel" sounds like some of the rocket mishaps we had during our model rocket days. Everything is working as intended till you hit the button......

[@user-ox5wg9po9m]

Now that's a true patriot and American hero.

[@stijnvandamme76]

How many John Boyd's does the USAF have?

[@JoshuaAmaro]

Right?!

[@RedFail1-1]

Well. This gentleman is not John, he is Jon.

[@timbacchus]

Can't wait to get up close to it. Pretty stealthy if a bat runs into it while still....So cool to show your daughter the plane.

[@luckystriker7489]

5:18 This gentleman knows nothing about autofocussing, although he is undeniably a gifted pilot.

[@jasonehredt968]

Went to Pima as a boy with my Grandpa’s 8th AF group. Life changing.

[@jeffreymoore5762]

JohnBoy -- nice presentation. Last time I talked to the Systems Command guys (or whatever the new title is) they seemed to indicate that 834 Necromancer was no longer an airframe. Nice to see your Dark Angel on display. I'll have to drop in for a visit to the Pima Air Museum someday for a walkaround. Look me up if you ever get lost and wake up in Kentucky, Jeff "Jammer" Moore Bandit-292

[@COYOTE_N8]

I've always been a fan of the f117. Beautiful aircraft

[@scotfield3950]

Outstanding! Thank you!

[@matterhaz2980]

This needs millions of views

[@TeaVR]

What a fabulous story. Thanks for taking the time creating the video.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

What a cool video. Thats for taking the time to tell these stories. This aircraft and the men that made it fly are incredible.

[@ThorstenWieking]

I love the Pima Air&Space Museum, spent two great days there in 2008, have to return one day, would love to see the F-117, it being one of the interesting aircraft during my childhood.

[@mrkc10]

Awesome story sir. F-117 was a challenging jet to refuel…at night in the weather. Good times 🫡🇺🇸

[@RGB06084]

Great interview!

[@Scott-kd4gs]

Elephant in the room. Is the dark angel art still on the bomb door?

[@Rezin_8]

❤ artist in me is on it 😂❤

[@yossi7988]

Amazing, thanks for sharing!

[@SNOwyte]

The asset Thats so gangster

[@martythemartian_]

can we please get an announcement when this beauty is on display? this is a legendary plane :)

[@providentpathfinders219]

My dad did something with maintenance training software related to the APU at the now defunct Allied Signal. That’s about all i know. For years if you asked him what he did it was “made boring stuff”. To this day he says it was the happiest he ever was at a job.

[@pjl1088]

Thank you for service.

[@JohnSmith-xs4sx]

i was at the end of the runway outside the fence at Langley with a group of folks when you guys were arriving for Desert Storm and one of the jets was making a very different and concerning sound than the others on final....wondering now if it was this one ?! ....what a sight that was watching them all come in , had seen one a while before that event flying over me while out on the James River one afternoon and could not believe what i was looking at..."what is that thing? " , well we soon found out :)

[@recoiIed]

Awesome interview 💪

[@shaunroberts9361]

Outstanding...

[@matts2581]

That was great - thank you for sharing. :D

[@mignav464]

Really interesting, I must say, thanks to all involved. Since they scraped off all the paint, we can confirm that it's probably a combination of geometry and absorbent paint. So except the sample that "was left" in former Yugoslavia, still all classified stuff, 30 years later. Pretty wild 😉👍

[@jdl.1234]

I was stationed at TTR. Great interview!

[@mikedunker7354]

AMAZING

[@TheFlightDeckCinema]

some reason i love the "Black Jet" name. so so cool. Crossing the atlantic in that condition seems so sketchy

[@SaanichtonMinistries]

I seen the F117 is Palm Springs last year. Wonderful exhibit. I am a UAV pilot and private pilot

[@ValleyFPV]

My dads company made alot of airframe parts on that aircraft. We were proud to be involved.

[@tigertiger1699]

Thank you from 🇳🇿🙏🙏🙏

[@skibum415]

3:52 “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” is a quote by The Great One, Wayne Gretzky.

[@65gtotrips]

I find it kinda interesting that F-117’s are now museum pieces. I mean they are futuristic and you just wouldn’t think they’d become outdated by technology as we see in the F-35; Even the F-22’s, which unto themselves are not too long for retirement. - But again, it is over 30 years old.

[@gyzfr6]

Once more secretly kept than the Manhattan Project. Now just out there.

[@rp1645]

YES just Laugh at all those po that think in Area #51 that have UFOs or aliens 😊 this is it. This is your big conspiracy theory of Government cover for UFOs. My Father in law flew into Nevada super secret Air spaces in Nevada right after Air Force Flight Engineering time. He by the way was on Delivery of the first 747 to become Air Force ONE. He was on the Boeing crew that turned it over to the Air Force crew. Anyway he said or what he could tell me about flying in Nevada was checking Turbulence on the airframes for the test Jets. I would laugh to myself when my coworker who never missed an episode of the ( X Files) would go on and on about being in Nevada late at night and these strange powers would take him and his brother over. OR the big ones, that everything is a cover up about a big Government hiding secret UFOs from far off Galaxy's in area #51. I would just shake my head. This video is a prime example of why this project was so,so top secret. Even the other pilots who were friends with these Pilots did "NOT" know the operations of this stealth jet fighter. If you are going to be one up on your enemy you have to hide VIP stuff from them understanding how the Airframes can't be seen, It's that simple. But I guess my big mouth coworker thought that knew it all And these are the types of people that if you say something to them in confidence want them to hold a secret, they are the very FIRST to blab it to the world. I guess it's good in a way to let them think that area #51 holds little green men and UFOs

[@mentalizatelo]

1981: Look, it's an UFO from the CIA about a top secret plane we know nothing about. 2024: Here, let me show you how to fly an F-117.

[@basskiller296]

Make sense taking A-10 pilots for the F-117 program, because is primary an Air to ground asset.

[@Arizona9001]

He’s now the CEO of all F-117’s

[@terryboyer1342]

We got a 117 last summer at The Museum of Aviation at Warner robins AFB. It too was stripped of black paint and other parts the docent said were still secret. One thing puzzled me however. It had a right bomb bay door but no left one. Can't figure out why the left one was secret but not the right one. 🤔

[@ericvonp]

I remember we were air refueling somewhere over Nebraska. Saw this “top secret “ mission…was maybe 40ft away I wasn’t impressed. No wonder it’s gone

[@pauldavis5489]

Love the Pima Air Museum, Thank you for sharing your experiences with # 810!! I lived in Tucson for 15 years and visited the museum and the 'Bone" yard several times. It was always a thrill to see all the aircraft and personal!

[@pitts64lb]

Is there a way to contact LTCOL Boyd directly via email?

[@Carfeu]

Do they strip the paint for it to be shown to the public?

[@2jsanc681]

Yes it has stealth capability paint

[@tigertiger1699]

Wow…. What a privilege 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@SpeedFireARL]

панели РПМ все сняты если я правильно понимаю. тогда получается что носки крыла полностью из РПМ

[@Celeon999A]

Well if i imagine them telling me that i am supposed to fly something that aerodynamically unfavourable.... i would ask myself if i just made a terrible mistake by signing on for this. 😁 I bet the airframe made some unsettling noises during certain maneuvers. 😉

[@jerrywatt6813]

Wow not mutch left of the old ghost but in this condition it sure looks familiar I guess she's Really senior now 😊

[@dave.of.the.forrest]

seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to recreate the missing parts in some sheet aluminum to get the correct look, then some nice paint and yer done.

[@thejohnbeck]

hard to believe it's been over 30 years since watching the f117 hit Baghdad, CNN showing cruise missiles, and that stupid overplayed Bette Midler song

[@sblack48]

Still don’t know why it was an F and not an A

[@slappomatthew]

Probably out of a job or even dead if you did that in the commercial world. Crazy story

[@user-kf5kq3bx2c]

🇺🇸😇🙏🕊️👍🦅💪

[@para1324]

🫡🇺🇸

[@TomPauls007]

now you can see what influenced the "design" of the Tesla Cyber Truck. Police radar stealth??

[@Johnwashere-dt2ov]

Not even close

[@TomPauls007]

@@Johnwashere-dt2ov Seriously? Do you think there was some humor there??

[@Johnwashere-dt2ov]

@@TomPauls007 I will take that back. Hard to tell when Tesla comes up in comments.

[@jimjones-pz1tt]

Ben Rich tells the story of the Skunk Works photographer complaining about his new Polaroid camera being broken. He was trying to photograph a model of the F117 on Ben's desk. The Polaroid camera focused via sonar. That incident led Ben to suggest stealth submarines to the Navy. The subs were rejected because the faceted hull would cost a few knots speed. Just like the F117, speed doesn't matter when the enemy can't see you. Then Ben proposed the stealth ship AKA Sea Shadow. The Navy objected because regulations said Navy ships had to have a paint locker - even though you the Sea Shadow wasn't painted and you couldn't paint over stealth coatings. More importantly, the Rand Corp. did a study that showed a handful of Sea Shadows could protect the entire fleet. Navy big shots didn't like the idea of big ships being protected by little boats and no naval officer wanted to be promoted to captain a 200 ft. boat with a crew of ten instead of an aircraft carrier with 3,000 crew + 1,500 more air crew. Rich wrote that Kelly's unwritten rule held: "Starve before doing business with the Navy." All because a Polaroid camera couldn't focus on a F117 model.

[@VelimirAndan]

Did you flying during 99.bombing Serbia (Yugoslavia) ,when we crashed down one of F/117 and two more hit and damige, but it wasn't good hit, so they reach Germany and Croatian airports. You said that your name were at plane cabin! Is it normal think in US air force that name of pilot is on planes that they fly on????

[@Iexpedite1]

Pilot names and their crew chiefs name is on each jet.

[@VelimirAndan]

@@Iexpedite1 Yes,but pilot that didn't know how many missiles we send at the plane and said first didn't hit me but second like train? It was missile that activate in the near target, making damige with fragmantacion parts... Second, at museum in Belgrade on the cabine wasn't his name but cap. .... "WIZ" ... I can't remamber. His name is .... Zelko! Is it posible that he was crashed down in that plane?

[@VelimirAndan]

@@Iexpedite1 O,first missile hit him and that was all...for stealth bomber

[@yomommaahotoo264]

Thank you for defending the petrodollar.

[@jackharle1251]

Thank Joe Biden for dismantling the petrodollar.

[@thomasfx3190]

@@jackharle1251It was Trumps idea to stop buying Saudi crude, but it really not up to Biden or Trump. Saudi light sweet crude is just cheaper and easier to crack than our domestic sources and so that’s what refineries in Houston buy. Shale oil and West Texas intermediate are just harder to refine and thus more expensive. Nobody is going to tell Marathon, Valero or ExxonMobil what to buy, that’s just business.

[@Turd_Furgeson]

We have never gotten oil from Iraq

[@yomommaahotoo264]

@@Turd_Furgeson LOL - Saddam threatened to base Iraq's oil production on other currency besides the dollar. This would've been the beginning of the end of the dollar.

[@gtbriggs6614]

Why did this man lie about being a pilot of this aircraft, he last flew military aircraft in 1975 and was a major critic of it along with his fighter plane mafia cronies?

[@PimaAirSpaceMuseum]

Different person, same name but spelled different

[@gtbriggs6614]

@@PimaAirSpaceMuseumI’ll take my foot from my mouth then, apologies

[@robertfeeley6303]

Secrets are valuable

[@sandarbian3947]

In 1975 Jon was three years out of high school and in college. So he didn't "last flew" in 1975.

[@gtbriggs6614]

@@sandarbian3947​​⁠check the other comments here, there is a identity issue between John Boyd and Jon Boyd which I already apologised for .

[@TheSithTeacher]

Nothing to be proud of…

[@kentsibille6850]

I knew Jon’s dad Rocky Boyd when he worked at Petroleum Helicopters in Lafayette, Louisiana. I remember Jon making low passes at the Lafayette airport in some Air Force fighter.

[@cherylduhon6448]

It's nice to see a reply from a local friend. I pass by your strip once in a while. I was wondering if you still had the old taildragger in the hanger. Dan Duhon , Carencro,la.

[@kentsibille6850]

@@cherylduhon6448 - I sold my Champ to man in Lafayette to help pay for college for my twins. I live there. My son is a pilot for FlexJet and he’ll buy an airplane one day.

[@just_one_opinion]

is that the guy who bombed chin embassy in Belgrade?

[@Johnwashere-dt2ov]

Was bombed by a B2