Buy A Stealth Fighter and Bring It Home to Michigan

The U.S. government has heard my pleas. Sell me one of your F-117 Nighthawk fighter jets, move on to newer technology and let me bring it back to Michigan to celebrate where stealth technology was born.

I'm glad to announce a U.S. Air Force F-117A, serial number 84-0827, is up for auction. However - it is a bit of a fixer-upper.

This F-117 is up for auction by the U.S. Government. But there are some conditions. According to TheDrive.com, it's been cannibalized for parts to be used by other aircraft, stripped of the "toxic radar absorbent material" which was one of the keys to making it "stealthy" (and a big part of the plot on "The Americans"), you can't get it in flying shape again because, "the plane is only available for static display" and it's currently at Tonopah Test Range Airport - probably the second most secure U.S. air base in the world behind Area 51. So, they'll be doing a little background check on you before you get to cruise through the front gate there.

Other than that - let's buy it. And why should an F-117 be in Michigan? Because research into stealth technology started here, in the 1940s and 50s, at a facility at Willow Run Airport, known then as Michigan Aeronautical Research Center (MARC).

I rest my case. We've got until March 16th to get our bid in. I'm a little short on funds after Christmas and Valentine's Day - so, who's got some extra cash?

Here's the story.