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1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California
Courtesy The Western Museum of Flight, Torrance, California; and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Edited by David Barth, 13 April 2014. Photos were taken by David Barth, 14 April 2013.
The Western Museum of Flight (WMOF) is an aviation museum located at Zamperini Field, the municipal airport in Torrance, California. WMOF is operated by the Southern California Historical Aviation Foundation. It houses not only historic aircraft, many of which were built in Southern California, but also has an extensive collection of historic photographs and blueprints.
The museum has several rare aircraft among its collection, including one of only two Northrop YF-23 stealth fighter prototypes. Also on display is a Northrop YF-17 Cobra, a lightweight fighter which was the basis for the heavier Boeing (originally McDonnell-Douglas) F/A-18 Hornet currently used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. In addition, a Grumman F-14 Tomcat and a Northrop JB-1 (one of only three JB-1s flying wings remaining) are both on public display, plus numerous other notable jet- and propeller-drive airplanes.
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| 1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California. |
YF-23A PAV-1, serial number 87-0800 (the Black Widow II), registration number N231YF, was on display as of 2009 in the Research and Development hangar of the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio.
YF-23A PAV-2, serial number 87-0801 (the Gray Ghost), registration number N232YF, was on exhibit at the Western Museum of Flight as of 2010 at the museum's new location at Torrance Airport, Torrance, California.
NORTHROP-McDONNELL DOUGLAS YF-23
The Northrop YF-23 or Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23 was an American single-seat, twin-engine fighter aircraft designed for the United States Air Force (USAF).
The design was a finalist in the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) competition, battling the Lockheed YF-22 for a production contract. Two YF-23 prototypes were built with the nicknames "Black Widow II" and "Gray Ghost".
In the 1980s the USAF began looking for a replacement for its fighter aircraft, especially to counter the USSR's advanced Su-27 and MiG-29. Several companies submitted design proposals; the USAF selected proposals from Northrop and Lockheed. Northrop teamed with McDonnell Douglas to develop the YF-23, while Lockheed, Boeing and General Dynamics developed the YF-22.
The YF-23 was stealthier and faster, but less agile than the competition. After a four-year development and evaluation process, the YF-22 was announced the winner in 1991 and entered production as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The U.S. Navy considered using the production version of the ATF as the basis for a replacement to the F-14, but these plans were later canceled. As of 2009, the two YF-23 prototypes were museum exhibits.
Both YF-23 airframes remained in storage until mid-1996, when the aircraft were transferred to museums.
YF-23A PAV-1, serial number 87-0800 (the Black Widow II), registration number N231YF, was on display as of 2009 in the Research and Development hangar of the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio.
YF-23A PAV-2, serial number 87-0801 (the Gray Ghost), registration number N232YF, was on exhibit at the Western Museum of Flight until 2004, when it was reclaimed by Northrop Grumman and used as a display model for a YF-23-based bomber. PAV-2 was returned to the Western Museum of Flight and was on display as of 2010 at the museum's new location at Torrance Airport, Torrance, California.
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| 1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California. |
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| 1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California. |
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| 1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California. |
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| 1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California. |
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| 1989 Northrop YF-23, Torrance Airport, California. Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
| Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 | |
|---|---|
| Characteristic | Detail |
| Type | Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) |
| Role | Experimental fighter prototype |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Northrop/McDonnell Douglas |
| First flight | 27 August 1990 |
| Status | Canceled |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 2 |