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And (I don't see it elsewhere, but maybe it is) it was so difficult to fly that it was known as "the wobbling goblin". Also, I remember seeing a model kit in

And (I don't see it elsewhere, but maybe it is) it was so difficult to fly that it was known as "the wobbling goblin". Also, I remember seeing a model kit in the window of a model shop in North London, well before the plane was announced to the public. Must have been in the 80s. Oh, and another memory has surfaced from the compost heap that passes for my brain these days - my then girlfriend bought me a little friction-drive toy of one of them - also 1980s.

detritus 5y ago
Are you sure you're not thinking of the F-19 model that came out in the very late 80s? I was a bit of plane nerd at the time - by early adolescent standards, at least - and I remember all my books being blindsided by the F-117's ultimate form.
- zabzonk 5y ago
  Nope, I don't think so - but given the state of my brain at present, who knows? Wikipedia: "First flight June 18, 1981; 40 years ago"
  - detritus 5y ago
    We didn't get to see it for nearly another decade or so, though. "The existence of the aircraft was officially acknowledged in 1988" – https://www.britannica.com/technology/F-117 https://www.britannica.com/technology/F-117 Certainly, the precursor to the above game, F-19, was released in 1988, with the assumption that the plane looked something alike that on the box-art.
    - zabzonk 5y ago
      Me: > Also, I remember seeing a model kit in the window of a model shop in North London, well before the plane was announced to the public. Must have been in the 80s. Note "well before the plane was announced to the public" This would have been far before 1988.
      - detritus 5y ago
        The shop in between Holborn and Tottenham Court road, by any chance? Always loved that place. In regards to the model and the time, I suspect you're mistaken, but .. meh.
        zabzonk 5y ago
        > The shop in between Holborn and Tottenham Court road, by any chance? Beatties, I think. I used to pop in there on my way home from Touche Ross, accountants, where I had a mangement gig - I used to think "If only I had back then compared to what I do now ..." - and had grand designs for an N-guage railway setup - girlfriend vetoed it. Never bought anything. Ooh, but wait, I do seem to remember buying my little nephew an R/C car there! Regarding the F177, the shop was in Southgate, North London, cannot remember the name, oposite tube station, but I am right :-)
      - mjg59 5y ago
        Multiple model kits of the F-19 were released in the 80s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-19#Notable_appearances_in_media https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-19#Notable_appearances_in_me...) - they have a vague resemblance to the F-117, but I don't know of any releases of F-117 models before it was officially revealed.

detritus 5y ago

Are you sure you're not thinking of the F-19 model that came out in the very late 80s? I was a bit of plane nerd at the time - by early adolescent standards, at least - and I remember all my books being blindsided by the F-117's ultimate form.

zabzonk 5y ago
Nope, I don't think so - but given the state of my brain at present, who knows? Wikipedia: "First flight June 18, 1981; 40 years ago"
- detritus 5y ago
  We didn't get to see it for nearly another decade or so, though. "The existence of the aircraft was officially acknowledged in 1988" – https://www.britannica.com/technology/F-117 https://www.britannica.com/technology/F-117 Certainly, the precursor to the above game, F-19, was released in 1988, with the assumption that the plane looked something alike that on the box-art.
  - zabzonk 5y ago
    Me: > Also, I remember seeing a model kit in the window of a model shop in North London, well before the plane was announced to the public. Must have been in the 80s. Note "well before the plane was announced to the public" This would have been far before 1988.
    - detritus 5y ago
      The shop in between Holborn and Tottenham Court road, by any chance? Always loved that place. In regards to the model and the time, I suspect you're mistaken, but .. meh.
      - zabzonk 5y ago
        > The shop in between Holborn and Tottenham Court road, by any chance? Beatties, I think. I used to pop in there on my way home from Touche Ross, accountants, where I had a mangement gig - I used to think "If only I had back then compared to what I do now ..." - and had grand designs for an N-guage railway setup - girlfriend vetoed it. Never bought anything. Ooh, but wait, I do seem to remember buying my little nephew an R/C car there! Regarding the F177, the shop was in Southgate, North London, cannot remember the name, oposite tube station, but I am right :-)
    - mjg59 5y ago
      Multiple model kits of the F-19 were released in the 80s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-19#Notable_appearances_in_media https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-19#Notable_appearances_in_me...) - they have a vague resemblance to the F-117, but I don't know of any releases of F-117 models before it was officially revealed.