The eighth production F-117A, tail number 792, was delivered to the test site at Groom Lake, Nevada, on 6 November 1982 inside a C-5 cargo transport. Technicians completed the final assembly in a hangar at the southern end of the base. The first engine run took place six days later, and initial taxi tests were conducted on 7 December.

Lockheed test pilot Skip Holm flew the first flight of 792 on 9 December. He made a second flight the following day. Tom Morganfeld completed contractor testing of 792 on 14 December. Tom Abel made two flights in 792 to complete Air Force testing of the aircraft. The final Air Force test, on 17 December, included verification of the aircraft's low radar cross-section using the Dynamic Coherent Measurement System (DYCOMS) at Groom Lake.

After acceptance by the Air Force on 22 December, Ship 792 was assigned to the 4450th Test Squadron Nightstalkers of the 4450th Tactical Group at Tonopah Test Range (TTR), Nevada. The airplane was modified to Configuration Upade 1 on 8 February 1985. On 2 January 1986, it became the first F-117A to undergo a 300-hour inspection. Ship 792 spent its career engaged in operational test and evaluation. During the service life of 792, the mere existence of the radar-evading F-117A was a closely guarded secret.

By 1986, the news media (especially aerospace writers) had been publishing stories for quite some time regarding rumors of 50 to 70 "F-19 stealth" airplanes that were allegedly based at TTR. Spokesmen for the Air Force denied such rumors, but something was about to happen that threatened to expose the truth.