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Northrop YF-23 Black Widow II

50 min documentary about the aircraft the USAF turned down in favour of the YF-22 (later F/A-22 Raptor).

I remember seeing this back in the day and thinking 'Wow they actually built Firefox!' and now revisiting the plane I cant help but see the similarities with the Russian future fighter, the PAK-FA, which to me looks like a similar, low tech version of the YF-23. Low tech particularly in the nozzles, which on the YF-23 have some of the characteristics of the B2 Spirit, with the heat absorbing tiles, and having them hidden from the ground by the airframe.

Anyway, its a pretty sad story in the end, and maybe a downright tragic one, since I have never heard any really good explanations as to why the F-22 came out on top, while being slower, less stealthy (in IR and Radar), harder to maintain and with an inferior weapon load.

Ive just heard some grumbling that the weapon stations on the Black Widow II stacked its missiles, a bit like a magazine in an automatic rifle, and that this was considered a design flaw (ie if a missile failed to leave the bay, then the rest of the stack was then useless). I also 'heard' that the decision was partly to do with the US Navy being interested in the ATF program, and the F-22 being a more promising carrier based aricraft, but then they of course withdrew any interest after all.

Its a shame they couldnt just build both like they would have in the 50s or 60s, just imagine if the USAF had built 200 Raptors and 200 Black Widow IIs...

Well, if anyone knows much about the ATF program and why the F-22 won, or has any opinions on the two planes, Id be interested to hear them..

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Added: Jun-30-2012 
By: gnark1ll
In: Other Entertainment, Weapons, Science and Technology
Tags: yf23, black widow, northrop, mcdonnell douglas, x planes, atf
Marked as: approved
Views: 2741 | Comments: 16 | Votes: 0 | Favorites: 4 | Shared: 421 | Updates: 0 | Times used in channels: 2
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  • I've flown both the f22 and f23. I have both in my garage right now. The f22 is far superior especially in its cup holder configuration and cooled glove box.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    detroit_doc (250.54)

    (1)

  • the YF-22 and YF-23 were very closely matched, due in part to the use of computers in thier design, and omputerized fly by wire systems. The main reason the YF-22 was chosen over the YF-23 is due to a visible flaw in it's flight dynamics. when the YF-23 was in a turn, or attitude change, it produced very large and conspicuous wing tip vortices. even in gradual turns and rolls, the wing tips produced visible trails. I have this knowledge because worked at the Lockheed Skunk Works, and was assigne More..

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    stevegxxx (0.10)  

    (1)

    • @stevegxxx Ummmm, Plant 42 is where Skunk Works is located or Site 10, Plant 15 was in Long Beach and quitclaimed to Douglas Aircraft in 1960. All the sites at Plant 42 in Palmdale are where major testing and infrastructure was done on these aircraft. Boeing Phantomworks at Site 1, U2 testing and upgrades at Lockheeds Site 2, Site 4 is Northrup (B2 Development) accross the way where Rockwell was at Site 8. I worked at Plant 42 and was able to see these aircraft fly off to Edwards for further More..

      Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
      surfnturfdfl (12.18)  

      (0)

  • Comment of user 'LBJFRWY' has been deleted by author!

  • Looks like they picked the wrong one, the Raptor turned out to be a piece of crap. It's such a piece of shit, the pilots would rather have their careers destroyed than to fly it.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    RoccoSantoro (506.10)  
    RoccoSantoro
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  • The YF-23 was probably the most impressive fighter jet design ever, unfortunately Lockheed Martin has always the better lobbist.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    Panzerknacker2 (4090.42)  

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  • The yf23's fly by anal plug flight control system was not popular with the test pilots.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    detroit_doc (250.54)

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  • STFU 10:08 to 10:47

    Military industrial complex wet dream. Making war on war profitable for generations.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    whatduh (438.06)  

    (0)

  • bob sandusky? any relation to jerry sandusky?

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    orangepeel (114.10)  

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  • This thing first flew in 1990.

    The chinamen still haven't gotten the knock-off right...

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    Martyr_Machine (435.56)
    Martyr_Machine
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  • The video said that they sat at Edwards AFB for 5 years before they moved them.

    I figured I would see if I could find them on google earth. Sure enough, you can roll back the imagery to 5/27/94 - a date that they would still be there. The video shows them one behind the other at 47:01.

    I think I found them. Roll back the imagery to 94' and then go to the corner of Muroc Rd and Wolfe Ave. You will see 2 blobs, about the size of fighter jets, fuzzed out.

    Is it them?

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    Martyr_Machine (435.56)
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  • Considering these types of planes were flying in 1990 I always wonder what kind of crazy planes are prototypes today.

    Posted Jul-1-2012 By 
    Epic_Beard_Man (412.60)

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  • I was rooting for the YF-23 during the ATF program based on looks alone. That is one awesome looking aircraft. Makes the F-22 look like a pile of puke.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    Ham_Sandwich27 (649.30)  

    (-1)

  • Money talks... Lockheed had better Lobbyist in Washington. They had better contacts in the government. Its pretty simple. really

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    clayboy49 (13.52)  

    (-1)