Feats and leaps of engineering.

The SCF-45 Scimitar was a groundbreaking multirole fighter that integrated partial stealth capabilities, reflecting Starcrest United's early experimentation with low-observable aircraft. Inspired by the Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk, the Scimitar leveraged advanced computational design methods to refine its radar cross-section while maintaining the versatility of a 4th generation fighter. The first prototype emerged in 1985, with its maiden flight taking place in 1986. Despite its innovative approach, the aircraft's complexity led to limited production, with only 200 units built between 1986 and 1996. While not as stealth-focused as its inspiration, the Scimitar's reduced radar signature provided a tactical advantage, making it a valuable asset in both air combat and strike missions. Its unique place in Starcrest United's history represents a key step toward more advanced stealth technologies in later generations of aircraft.

The SCF-45 Scimitar incorporated 80% composite materials in its construction, enhancing its stealth characteristics and reducing its overall weight without compromising structural integrity. This extensive use of composites contributed to its remarkably low radar cross-section, measuring 2.5 square miles with loaded pylons and shrinking to 0.25 square miles when operating clean. Additionally, its engine bay featured heat-absorbing materials, effectively minimizing its infrared signature and making it harder to track with heat-seeking weaponry. These design elements, inspired by the F-117 Nighthawk, allowed the Scimitar to maintain partial stealth while fulfilling its role as a multirole fighter.

Regarding this specific aircraft...

This aircraft belonged to the Starcrest United Air Corps' 39th Close Air Support Squadron "Bombshells", stationed at Wright AFB in Oahu, Hawaii. The pilot, Lieutenant Wilburt "Wildside" Lopez flew around 5,000 flight hours in this aircraft between 1989 and 2004, being deployed in both the Gulf War and the War on Terror, racking up 7 kills in his career before retiring.

The airframe itself was then transferred to a third-party aggressor training squadron in 2005 before being put in the Starcrest Museum of Aviation in 2010. In 2024, it joined one of Starcrest's heritage squadrons as one of ten airworthy airframes left, being painted with a Genshin Impact livery by Wilburt Lopez's daughter, Klara Lopez.