The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 is an American single-seat, twin-engine, stealth fighter technology demonstrator prototype designed for the United States Air Force (USAF).

The YF-12 was a twin-seat version of the then-secret single-seat Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); unlike the A-12, it was furnished with the Hughes AN/ASG-18 fire-control radar and could be …

The Northrop YF-17 (nicknamed "Cobra") is a prototype lightweight fighter aircraft designed by Northrop aviation for the United States Air Force 's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) technology evaluation program.

The two Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23 prototypes in flight. The aircraft on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force is the darker one on the right. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Northrop Grumman’s YF-23 Prototype was by all accounts an impressive machine with speeds of Mach 2.25 and a high 1.36 thrust-to-weight ratio, yet the stealth fighter jet wound up “losing” an ...

Oct 26, 2024 · What You Need to Know: The Northrop YF-23, nicknamed “Black Widow II,” was a stealth fighter prototype developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced...

Oct 11, 2024 · Designed to compete with the YF-22 for the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the Northrop YF 23 was a groundbreaking aircraft that demonstrated cutting-edge technology and innovation.

Feb 1, 2022 · Lockheed unveiled their YF-22 prototype the following day in a ceremony held at Plant 10 in Palmdale, CA on August 28. With the first flight completed, flight testing ramped up quickly. In order to maximize time aloft, the YF-23 qualified for air refueling on its fourth flight.

Feb 1, 2022 · The YF-23 rapidly completed taxi testing with increasing speeds, culminating in the final high-speed test to 120 knots on August 11. Unofficially dubbed ‘Black Widow II’, Northrop’s Prototype Air Vehicle (PAV) number 1 took to the air for the first time on August 27 making a near flawless one hour flight.

Sep 23, 2024 · The Northrop YF-23 was designed to replace the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. Sadly, it lost out to Lockheed's YF-22 (later F-22 Raptor).