{"id":28392922,"date":"2026-10-17T09:37:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T07:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/?p=28392922"},"modified":"2026-10-17T09:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T07:37:41","slug":"tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 Pilot Who Landed Without a Nosewheel"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\n\n<style>\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background .15s,color .15s}\n.mfsh-trigger:hover,.mfsh-trigger:focus-visible{background:#0F1720;color:#fff;outline:none}\n.mfsh-trigger svg{width:18px;height:18px;display:block;flex-shrink:0}\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-bottom{margin:8px 0 28px}\n.mfsh-meta{position:relative;padding-right:190px}\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;margin:0;height:30px;padding:0 8.9px;font-size:13px}\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta svg{width:16px;height:16px}\n.mfsh-overlay{position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(15,23,32,.55);z-index:99999;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:center;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s}\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}\n.mfsh-sheet{width:100%;max-width:520px;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;padding:18px 20px 28px;transform:translateY(24px);transition:transform .22s;box-shadow:0 12px 32px rgba(15,23,32,.25);font-family:inherit;max-height:92vh;overflow:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open .mfsh-sheet{transform:none}\n@media (min-width:640px){.mfsh-overlay{align-items:center}.mfsh-sheet{padding-bottom:20px}}\n.mfsh-head{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin:0 0 14px}\n.mfsh-head strong{font-size:18px;font-weight:800;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;line-height:1}\n.mfsh-head strong svg{width:18px;height:18px}\n.mfsh-close{background:none;border:0;padding:6px;margin:0;cursor:pointer;color:#0F1720;line-height:0;box-shadow:none}\n.mfsh-close svg{width:18px;height:18px}\n.mfsh-preview{display:grid;grid-template-columns:96px 1fr;gap:12px;border:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:#F5F7FB;padding:10px;margin:0 0 12px;align-items:center}\n.mfsh-preview img{width:96px;height:72px;object-fit:cover;display:block;margin:0}\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-kicker{font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5C91FF;margin:0 0 4px;line-height:1.2}\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-title{font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;margin:0;display:block}\n.mfsh-list{display:grid;margin:0;padding:0}\n.mfsh-item{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px;height:50px;width:100%;border:0;border-top:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:none;padding:0 4px;margin:0;text-align:left;font-family:inherit;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;color:#0F1720;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;line-height:1}\n.mfsh-item:hover,.mfsh-item:focus-visible{background:#F5F7FB;outline:none}\n.mfsh-item svg{width:20px;height:20px;color:#5C91FF;flex-shrink:0;display:block}\n.mfsh-item small{margin-left:auto;color:#5B6674;font-weight:500;font-size:12px}\n.mfsh-item.mfsh-done svg{color:#1E9E5A}\n.mfsh-toast{position:fixed;left:50%;bottom:32px;transform:translate(-50%,10px);background:#0F1720;color:#fff;padding:10px 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:13px;font-family:inherit;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s,transform .2s;z-index:100000}\n.mfsh-toast.mfsh-show{opacity:1;transform:translate(-50%,0)}\n@media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.mfsh-overlay,.mfsh-sheet,.mfsh-toast,.mfsh-trigger{transition:none}}\n<\/style>\n<svg width=\"0\" height=\"0\" style=\"position:absolute\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-share\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M12 3v12M8 7l4-4 4 4M5 12v8h14v-8\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"m5 5 14 14M19 5 5 19\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-wa\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-8.6 15.1L2 22l5.1-1.3A10 10 0 1 0 12 2Zm0 1.8a8.2 8.2 0 1 1-4.2 15.3l-.3-.2-3 .8.8-2.9-.2-.3A8.2 8.2 0 0 1 12 3.8Zm-3 4.4c-.2 0-.5 0-.8.4-.3.3-1 1-1 2.4s1 2.8 1.2 3c.1.2 2 3.2 5 4.4 2.5 1 3 .8 3.5.7.5 0 1.7-.7 2-1.4.2-.7.2-1.3.1-1.4l-.5-.3-2-1c-.3 0-.5-.1-.7.2l-.9 1.1c-.2.2-.3.2-.6.1-.3-.2-1.3-.5-2.4-1.5-.9-.8-1.5-1.8-1.7-2-.2-.4 0-.5.2-.7l.4-.5.3-.5v-.5l-.9-2.2c-.2-.5-.4-.5-.6-.5H9Z\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-x\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M17.8 3h3l-6.7 7.7L22 21h-6.2l-4.8-6.3L5.4 21h-3l7.2-8.2L2 3h6.3l4.4 5.8L17.8 3Zm-1.1 16.2h1.7L7.4 4.7H5.6l11.1 14.5Z\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-fb\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M13.5 22v-8h2.7l.4-3.2h-3.1V8.8c0-.9.3-1.6 1.6-1.6h1.7V4.4c-.3 0-1.3-.1-2.5-.1-2.5 0-4.1 1.5-4.1 4.2v2.3H7.4V14h2.8v8h3.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-li\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 8.5H3V21h3.5V8.5ZM4.8 3a2 2 0 1 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 0-4ZM21 13.4c0-3.4-1.8-5.2-4.5-5.2-1.6 0-2.7.8-3.2 1.7V8.5H9.9V21h3.4v-6.4c0-1.7.6-2.8 2.1-2.8 1.4 0 2 1 2 2.8V21H21v-7.6Z\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-rd\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M22 12.1a2.4 2.4 0 0 0-4.1-1.7 11.7 11.7 0 0 0-5.5-1.7l1-4.5 3.1.7a1.7 1.7 0 1 0 .2-1l-3.6-.8a.5.5 0 0 0-.6.4l-1.1 5.2a11.8 11.8 0 0 0-5.8 1.7A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 3 14.3v.5c0 3.4 4 6.2 9 6.2s9-2.8 9-6.2v-.5a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 1-2.2ZM7.5 13.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 3.4 0 1.7 1.7 0 0 1-3.4 0Zm8.9 4.5c-1.2 1.2-3.4 1.3-4.4 1.3s-3.3-.1-4.4-1.3a.5.5 0 0 1 .7-.7c.7.8 2.4 1 3.7 1s2.9-.2 3.7-1a.5.5 0 0 1 .7.7Zm-.6-2.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 0-3.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 0 3.4Z\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-tg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.9 4.6 18.7 19.9c-.2 1-.9 1.3-1.7.8l-4.9-3.6-2.3 2.3c-.3.3-.5.5-1 .5l.4-5 9-8.2c.4-.3-.1-.5-.6-.2L6.4 13.5 1.6 12c-1-.3-1.1-1 .2-1.5l18.8-7.2c.9-.3 1.6.2 1.3 1.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-mail\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"M3 6h18v12H3z\"\/><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"m3 7 9 6 9-6\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-link\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M10 14a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 0l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-5.7-5.7l-1.5 1.5M14 10a4 4 0 0 0-5.7 0l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 5.7l1.5-1.5\"\/><\/symbol>\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-more\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><circle cx=\"5\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"19\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/symbol>\n<\/svg>\n<span class=\"mfsh-top-slot\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger\" data-mfsh-placement=\"top\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button><\/span>\n<script>\n(function(){\n  if (window.__mfsh) return; window.__mfsh = true;\n  var SECTION = 'afterburner';\n  function meta(p){ var m=document.querySelector('meta[property=\"'+p+'\"]'); return m ? m.getAttribute('content') : ''; }\n  function pageUrl(){ var c=document.querySelector('link[rel=\"canonical\"]'); return (c && c.href) || (location.origin + location.pathname); }\n  function pageTitle(){ var h=document.querySelector('h1.entry-title'); return (h && h.textContent.trim()) || meta('og:title') || document.title; }\n  function slug(){ return location.pathname.replace(\/\\\/+$\/,'').split('\/').pop() || 'home'; }\n  function kicker(){ var c=document.querySelector('.et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category tag\"], .et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category\"], a[rel=\"category tag\"]'); return 'Afterburner' + (c && c.textContent.trim() ? ' \u00b7 ' + c.textContent.trim() : ''); }\n  function shareUrl(ch, placement){ return pageUrl() + '?utm_source=share&utm_medium=' + ch + '&utm_campaign=' + SECTION + '&utm_content=sheet_' + placement; }\n  function track(ch, placement, extra){\n    window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];\n    var ev = { event:'share', share_channel:ch, share_variant:'sheet', share_placement:placement, page_section:SECTION, content_id:slug() };\n    if (extra) for (var k in extra) ev[k]=extra[k];\n    window.dataLayer.push(ev);\n  }\n  var CH = [\n    ['whatsapp','WhatsApp','mfsh-i-wa',''],\n    ['x','X','mfsh-i-x',''],\n    ['facebook','Facebook','mfsh-i-fb',''],\n    ['linkedin','LinkedIn','mfsh-i-li',''],\n    ['reddit','Reddit','mfsh-i-rd','r\/aviation, r\/WarplanePorn'],\n    ['telegram','Telegram','mfsh-i-tg',''],\n    ['email','Email','mfsh-i-mail',''],\n    ['copy','Copy link','mfsh-i-link',''],\n    ['native','More','mfsh-i-more','Instagram, Signal, AirDrop']\n  ];\n  var overlay, toastEl, toastT, placement = 'top';\n  function build(){\n    overlay = document.createElement('div'); overlay.className = 'mfsh-overlay'; overlay.setAttribute('role','dialog'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-modal','true'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-label','Share');\n    var img = meta('og:image');\n    var items = CH.filter(function(c){ return c[0] !== 'native' || !!navigator.share; }).map(function(c){\n      return '<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-item\" data-mfsh-ch=\"'+c[0]+'\"><svg><use href=\"#'+c[2]+'\"\/><\/svg>'+c[1]+(c[3]?'<small>'+c[3]+'<\/small>':'')+'<\/button>';\n    }).join('');\n    overlay.innerHTML = '<div class=\"mfsh-sheet\"><div class=\"mfsh-head\"><strong><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share<\/strong><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-close\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>'\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-preview\">' + (img ? '<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"'+img+'\" alt=\"\">' : '<span><\/span>') + '<div><div class=\"mfsh-kicker\">'+kicker()+'<\/div><span class=\"mfsh-title\">'+pageTitle()+'<\/span><\/div><\/div>'\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-list\">'+items+'<\/div><\/div>';\n    document.body.appendChild(overlay);\n    toastEl = document.createElement('div'); toastEl.className = 'mfsh-toast'; document.body.appendChild(toastEl);\n    overlay.addEventListener('click', function(e){\n      if (e.target === overlay || e.target.closest('.mfsh-close')) { close(); return; }\n      var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-item'); if (b) act(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-ch'), b);\n    });\n    document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){ if (e.key === 'Escape') close(); });\n  }\n  function open(p){ placement = p || 'top'; if (!overlay) build(); overlay.classList.add('mfsh-open'); track('open', placement); }\n  function close(){ if (overlay) overlay.classList.remove('mfsh-open'); }\n  function toast(m){ toastEl.textContent = m; toastEl.classList.add('mfsh-show'); clearTimeout(toastT); toastT = setTimeout(function(){ toastEl.classList.remove('mfsh-show'); }, 1600); }\n  function act(ch, btn){\n    var url = shareUrl(ch, placement), t = pageTitle(), enc = encodeURIComponent;\n    if (ch === 'copy') {\n      var done = function(){ toast('Link copied'); btn.classList.add('mfsh-done'); setTimeout(function(){ btn.classList.remove('mfsh-done'); close(); }, 900); };\n      track(ch, placement);\n      if (navigator.clipboard && navigator.clipboard.writeText) navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(done, done); else done();\n      return;\n    }\n    if (ch === 'native') {\n      track(ch, placement, { share_result:'opened' });\n      navigator.share({ title:t, text:t, url:url }).then(function(){ track('native', placement, { share_result:'completed' }); close(); }).catch(function(){});\n      return;\n    }\n    var target = {\n      whatsapp: 'https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=' + enc(t + ' ' + url),\n      x:        'https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=' + enc(t) + '&url=' + enc(url) + '&via=MiGFlug',\n      facebook: 'https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=' + enc(url),\n      linkedin: 'https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=' + enc(url),\n      reddit:   'https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=' + enc(url) + '&title=' + enc(t),\n      telegram: 'https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=' + enc(url) + '&text=' + enc(t),\n      email:    'mailto:?subject=' + enc(t) + '&body=' + enc('Thought you would like this, from Afterburner, MiGFlug\\'s magazine:\\n' + t + '\\n' + url)\n    }[ch];\n    track(ch, placement);\n    if (target) { if (ch === 'email') location.href = target; else window.open(target, '_blank', 'noopener,width=680,height=560'); }\n    close();\n  }\n  var mq = window.matchMedia('(min-width:981px)');\n  function place(){\n    var t = document.querySelector('.mfsh-trigger[data-mfsh-placement=\"top\"]'), slot = document.querySelector('.mfsh-top-slot');\n    var meta = [].slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('.et_pb_title_meta_container, .et_post_meta_wrapper .post-meta, .single .post-meta')).filter(function(m){ return m.offsetParent !== null; })[0];\n    if (!t || !slot) return;\n    if (meta && mq.matches) { meta.classList.add('mfsh-meta'); t.classList.add('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== meta) meta.appendChild(t); var a = meta.querySelector('a'); if (a) { var pr = document.createElement('span'); pr.style.cssText = 'display:inline-block;width:0;height:0;vertical-align:baseline'; a.appendChild(pr); var base = pr.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; pr.remove(); var fs = parseFloat(getComputedStyle(a).fontSize) || 14, mb = meta.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; t.style.bottom = Math.max(0, mb - (base + fs * 0.12)) + 'px'; } }\n    else { t.classList.remove('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== slot) slot.appendChild(t); }\n  }\n  if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', place); else place(); window.addEventListener('load', place); if (document.fonts && document.fonts.ready) document.fonts.ready.then(place); window.addEventListener('resize', place);\n  if (mq.addEventListener) mq.addEventListener('change', place); else mq.addListener(place);\n  document.addEventListener('click', function(e){ var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-trigger'); if (b) { e.preventDefault(); open(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-placement') || 'top'); } });\n})();\n<\/script><!-- \/mfsh:top -->\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Few test pilots have had a take-off like Tom Morgenfeld&rsquo;s on 27 January 1982. As the third full-scale development F-117 lifted off from the secret test site at Groom Lake, better known as Area 51, its nosewheel came off and bounced down the runway behind him. The aircraft was so secret that the US Air Force would not admit it existed for nearly seven more years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A post on Instagram tells the story, and it is right in almost every detail. Here is what happened, according to Morgenfeld himself and to historian Peter Merlin&rsquo;s account of Area 51.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f5f5f5;border-left:4px solid #1a1a1a;padding:18px 22px;margin:24px 0\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px\"><li><strong>Date:<\/strong> 27 January 1982<\/li><li><strong>Aircraft:<\/strong> F-117A full-scale development aircraft No. 3, &ldquo;ship 782&rdquo;<\/li><li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Groom Lake test site (Area 51), Nevada<\/li><li><strong>Pilot:<\/strong> Tom Morgenfeld, Lockheed Skunk Works test pilot<\/li><li><strong>Problem:<\/strong> Nosewheel detached on take-off<\/li><li><strong>Outcome:<\/strong> Landed on the bare strut on a foamed runway; only the strut was damaged<\/li><li><strong>F-117 made public:<\/strong> November 1988<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">A Wheel on the Runway<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Morgenfeld was flying an avionics test sortie to evaluate improved cockpit displays. Right after take-off, observers saw the nosewheel come off and alerted him. The test conductor&rsquo;s concern was the landing: with only a bare strut, the nose could catch on a joint in the concrete and the aircraft could flip over. The dry lakebed was considered no safer. He was told to fly to a designated area and eject.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Why He Stayed<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Morgenfeld saw it differently. As a Navy F-8 pilot he had seen several nose gear failures. The F-117 landed slowly for a fighter, it tracked straight, and its drag chute produced a nose-up pitching moment that would help keep the strut off the concrete as the jet slowed. And he had a full tank of fuel and no other emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;Because I had a full tank of gas and no real pressing emergency, I just continued to fly my test cards.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Tom Morgenfeld<\/strong> &mdash; Lockheed test pilot, as quoted in Peter Merlin&rsquo;s account of the flight<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About an hour later, with the fuel burned down and fire crews having laid foam on the runway, he came in to land. The bare strut threw sparks as it ground along the concrete, the drag chute came out, and even without nosewheel steering the jet held the centreline. The only damage was to the strut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/f-117-nighthawk-landing-drag-chute.jpg\" alt=\"F-117 Nighthawk landing\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">An F-117 on landing. Its slow approach speed and drag chute were what convinced Morgenfeld he could bring ship 782 home on a bare strut. Photo: US Air Force, public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;The end result was visually rather spectacular, but otherwise pretty benign.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Tom Morgenfeld<\/strong> &mdash; on the nosewheel-less landing<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Union Grievance<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few days later, back at the Skunk Works in Burbank, Morgenfeld was called in by his bosses, who appeared to be angry. &ldquo;I heard you had a little problem this week,&rdquo; Ben Rich told him. He was then handed a union grievance accusing him of grinding down the nose gear strut without proper training or engineering approval. It was a prank. Accounts differ on who handed it over: Morgenfeld has credited Ben Rich, while Merlin&rsquo;s account says it was Kelly Johnson, the Skunk Works founder, with Rich in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Pilot<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Morgenfeld was a 1965 Naval Academy graduate who flew 90 combat missions in the F-8 Crusader over Vietnam with VF-191 from USS Oriskany and made 560 carrier landings. He graduated from the Empire Test Pilots&rsquo; School in England in 1975, flew MiG-17s, MiG-21s, MiG-23s and Su-22s in US Navy evaluation work with VX-4, and in 1979 flew MiGs with the Air Force&rsquo;s secret 4477th Test and Evaluation Flight. He joined Lockheed&rsquo;s Skunk Works the same year and logged more than 1,200 hours of F-117 testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He went on to make the first flight of the second YF-22, the Pratt &amp; Whitney-powered prototype, in 1990, and as Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s chief test pilot he made the first flight of the X-35A on 24 October 2000. Those prototypes led to the F-22 and the F-35. We look at the competitions in <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/yf-23-vs-yf-22-atf-competition\/\">The Best Fighter That Never Was<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/x-32-vs-x-35-jsf-competition\/\">One Plane to Rule Them All<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What the Viral Post Gets Right<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost everything: the date, the aircraft, the nosewheel on the runway, the test director&rsquo;s call to eject, Morgenfeld&rsquo;s reasoning about the slow landing and the drag chute, the foam, the sparks, and the prank grievance. Two small refinements. He made the first flight of the second YF-22, powered by Pratt &amp; Whitney engines, not the very first YF-22 flight, which was made by Dave Ferguson in the General Electric-powered prototype. And the Air Force acknowledged the F-117 in November 1988, nearly seven years after the incident rather than six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DekO_CpCNEt\/\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\"background:#fff;border:0;margin:24px auto;max-width:540px;min-width:280px;width:100%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DekO_CpCNEt\/\">View this post on Instagram<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources: Peter W. Merlin, Dreamland: The Secret History of Area 51 (via The Aviation Geek Club); Aerotech News, &ldquo;Gathering of Eagles celebrates F-117A test program&rdquo; (October 2016); Experimental test pilot biography of Thomas Morgenfeld; Wikipedia, Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk and Lockheed YF-22.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\n\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\n\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\n\n\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\n\n\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What happened to Tom Morgenfeld&rsquo;s F-117 in 1982?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">On 27 January 1982, the nosewheel came off F-117 full-scale development aircraft No. 3 as Lockheed test pilot Tom Morgenfeld took off from the Groom Lake test site. Instead of ejecting as the test director wanted, he completed his test flight, burned off fuel and landed about an hour later on the bare strut on a foamed runway. Only the strut was damaged.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why didn&rsquo;t Morgenfeld eject from the F-117?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Tom Morgenfeld judged that the F-117 landed slowly for a fighter, tracked straight on the ground, and that its drag chute would pitch the nose up as it slowed, keeping the bare strut from digging in. He had a full tank of fuel and no other emergency, so he continued his test points before landing.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What was the F-117 union grievance joke?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A few days after the nosewheel-less landing, Skunk Works management jokingly handed Tom Morgenfeld a union grievance for grinding down the nose gear strut without proper training or engineering approval. Morgenfeld has credited Ben Rich; Peter Merlin&rsquo;s account says Kelly Johnson handed it over.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Who was Tom Morgenfeld?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Tom Morgenfeld was a US Naval Academy graduate and F-8 Crusader pilot who flew 90 combat missions over Vietnam and made 560 carrier landings. He flew Soviet MiGs in US evaluation programmes, then joined Lockheed&rsquo;s Skunk Works in 1979, logging over 1,200 F-117 test hours.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Did Tom Morgenfeld fly the first YF-22 and X-35?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">He made the first flight of the second YF-22, the Pratt &amp; Whitney-powered prototype, in 1990; the first YF-22 flight was made by Dave Ferguson. As Lockheed Martin chief test pilot, Morgenfeld made the first flight of the X-35A on 24 October 2000.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>When was the F-117 revealed to the public?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The US Air Force publicly acknowledged the F-117 stealth fighter in November 1988, more than seven years after its first flight in June 1981 and nearly seven years after Tom Morgenfeld&rsquo;s nosewheel-less landing.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What happened to Tom Morgenfeld\u2019s F-117 in 1982?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"On 27 January 1982, the nosewheel came off F-117 full-scale development aircraft No. 3 as Lockheed test pilot Tom Morgenfeld took off from the Groom Lake test site. Instead of ejecting as the test director wanted, he completed his test flight, burned off fuel and landed about an hour later on the bare strut on a foamed runway. Only the strut was damaged.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why didn\u2019t Morgenfeld eject from the F-117?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Tom Morgenfeld judged that the F-117 landed slowly for a fighter, tracked straight on the ground, and that its drag chute would pitch the nose up as it slowed, keeping the bare strut from digging in. He had a full tank of fuel and no other emergency, so he continued his test points before landing.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What was the F-117 union grievance joke?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A few days after the nosewheel-less landing, Skunk Works management jokingly handed Tom Morgenfeld a union grievance for grinding down the nose gear strut without proper training or engineering approval. Morgenfeld has credited Ben Rich; Peter Merlin\u2019s account says Kelly Johnson handed it over.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who was Tom Morgenfeld?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Tom Morgenfeld was a US Naval Academy graduate and F-8 Crusader pilot who flew 90 combat missions over Vietnam and made 560 carrier landings. He flew Soviet MiGs in US evaluation programmes, then joined Lockheed\u2019s Skunk Works in 1979, logging over 1,200 F-117 test hours.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Did Tom Morgenfeld fly the first YF-22 and X-35?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"He made the first flight of the second YF-22, the Pratt & Whitney-powered prototype, in 1990; the first YF-22 flight was made by Dave Ferguson. As Lockheed Martin chief test pilot, Morgenfeld made the first flight of the X-35A on 24 October 2000.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When was the F-117 revealed to the public?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The US Air Force publicly acknowledged the F-117 stealth fighter in November 1988, more than seven years after its first flight in June 1981 and nearly seven years after Tom Morgenfeld\u2019s nosewheel-less landing.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/f-117-nighthawk-still-flying-tonopah-recallable-storage\/\">F-117 Nighthawk: Retired in 2008, Still Flying in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/yf-23-vs-yf-22-atf-competition\/\">The Best Fighter That Never Was<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/x-32-vs-x-35-jsf-competition\/\">One Plane to Rule Them All<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 27 January 1982, the nosewheel of a top-secret F-117 bounced down the runway at Area 51 as it took off. Lockheed test pilot Tom Morgenfeld was told to eject. He finished his test flight instead and landed on the bare strut.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":28392582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[666],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28392922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-legends"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 That Landed Without a Nosewheel | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In January 1982 the nosewheel fell off a secret F-117 on take-off at Area 51. Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld refused to eject, flew his test points and landed it on its bare strut.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 That Landed Without a Nosewheel | MiGFlug\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In January 1982 the nosewheel fell off a secret F-117 on take-off at Area 51. Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld refused to eject, flew his test points and landed it on its bare strut.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Afterburner - MiGFlug&#039;s Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-17T07:37:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-17T07:37:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"413\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"208\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\"},\"headline\":\"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 Pilot Who Landed Without a Nosewheel\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-17T07:37:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-17T07:37:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1200,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"History &amp; Legends\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/\",\"name\":\"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 That Landed Without a Nosewheel | MiGFlug\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-17T07:37:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-17T07:37:41+00:00\",\"description\":\"In January 1982 the nosewheel fell off a secret F-117 on take-off at Area 51. Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld refused to eject, flew his test points and landed it on its bare strut.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg\",\"width\":413,\"height\":208,\"caption\":\"Lockheed F-117A in flight. (U.S. Air Force photo)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 Pilot Who Landed Without a Nosewheel\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"name\":\"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine\",\"description\":\"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"width\":897,\"height\":278,\"caption\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MiGFlug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/migflug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/migflug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/MiGFlug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/migflug.com\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.ch\\\/migflug\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\",\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Connor Kerr\"},\"description\":\"Connor Kerr writes MiGFlug\u2019s long-form features \u2014 aviation history, how-it-works explainers and the stories behind the headlines.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/author\\\/connorkerr\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 That Landed Without a Nosewheel | MiGFlug","description":"In January 1982 the nosewheel fell off a secret F-117 on take-off at Area 51. Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld refused to eject, flew his test points and landed it on its bare strut.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 That Landed Without a Nosewheel | MiGFlug","og_description":"In January 1982 the nosewheel fell off a secret F-117 on take-off at Area 51. Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld refused to eject, flew his test points and landed it on its bare strut.","og_url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/","og_site_name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","article_published_time":"2026-10-17T07:37:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-17T07:37:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":413,"height":208,"url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Connor Kerr","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@migflug","twitter_site":"@migflug","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Connor Kerr","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/"},"author":{"name":"Connor Kerr","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9"},"headline":"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 Pilot Who Landed Without a Nosewheel","datePublished":"2026-10-17T07:37:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-17T07:37:41+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/"},"wordCount":1200,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg","articleSection":["History &amp; Legends"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/","name":"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 That Landed Without a Nosewheel | MiGFlug","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg","datePublished":"2026-10-17T07:37:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-17T07:37:41+00:00","description":"In January 1982 the nosewheel fell off a secret F-117 on take-off at Area 51. Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld refused to eject, flew his test points and landed it on its bare strut.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk-in-flight.jpg","width":413,"height":208,"caption":"Lockheed F-117A in flight. (U.S. Air Force photo)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/tom-morgenfeld-f-117-nosewheel-landing-1982-area-51\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Tom Morgenfeld: The F-117 Pilot Who Landed Without a Nosewheel"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","description":"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization","name":"MiGFlug GmbH","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","width":897,"height":278,"caption":"MiGFlug GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","https:\/\/x.com\/migflug","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/migflug\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MiGFlug","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/migflug.com\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ch\/migflug\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9","name":"Connor Kerr","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Connor Kerr"},"description":"Connor Kerr writes MiGFlug\u2019s long-form features \u2014 aviation history, how-it-works explainers and the stories behind the headlines.","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/author\/connorkerr\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28392922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28392922"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28392922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28393299,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28392922\/revisions\/28393299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28392582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28392922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28392922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28392922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}