Tag: USAF

The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter

Northrop YF-23A 87-0800 (N231YF) "Gray Ghost" in the Research and Development Hangar at Wright Patterson Air Force Base which was part of a tour from is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio in 2009

The USAF Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) Program commenced in the 1970’s, then continued through the 1980’s and 1990’s, as a development, demonstration and evaluation program for a new USAF fifth generation fighter with stealth technology to complement and eventually replace the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. Lockheed and Northrop proposals were accepted in October 1986 and the… Read More The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter

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The Survivors: Northrop YF-17 Cobra – The Unwanted Fighter with Quite a Legacy!

Northrop YF-17 "Cobra" prototype 72-1569 at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California (2015)

In 1972 the USAF Lightweight Fighter (LWF) Program was launched to develop a smaller, highly maneuverable, lower cost air combat fighter to complement and conduct roles not suitable for the highly capable but expensive McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle air superiority fighter. This program ultimately pitted two contenders in a fly off, the General Dynamics YF-16… Read More The Survivors: Northrop YF-17 Cobra – The Unwanted Fighter with Quite a Legacy!

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The Survivors: Convair B-36 – The Ultimate Peacemaker

USAF Convair B-36D Peacemaker (Photo Source: USAF)

Six turning and four burning… The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was the primary nuclear weapon strategic bomber of the USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) from 1948 to 1959 (it started to be replaced in this role from 1955 when the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress was first introduced with all being replaced 1958-1959). The B-36 had a range… Read More The Survivors: Convair B-36 – The Ultimate Peacemaker

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