YF-23A "Black Widow II" PAV-2 (S/N 87-801) was at the Hawthorne Air Faire on August 14th.
The restoration included several changes, including new cockpit displays and other cosmetic modifications.

It was present at the Hawthorne Air Faire a couple of weeks ago.

Since the airshow at Hawthorn PAV-2 has been sitting at the Northrop El Segundo Plant quite visible from public streets.











From the current issue (13-19 July) of Flight International:

Northrop Grumman's "forgotten" advanced tactical fighter leaves museum
and could be heading for bomber contest

Northrop Grumman's long-abandoned YF-23A advanced tactical fighter (ATF)
is emerging as the possible basis for a surprise contender for the US
Air Force's interim bomber requirement.

The company recently retrieved the second of the two YF-23A "Black Widow
II" prototypes (PAV-2) from the Western Museum of Flight in Hathorne,
California, ostensibly for repainting for display at a forthcoming
Northrop Grumman-backed air fair in August. However, the restoration is
also thought to include several changes, including new cockpit displays
and other possible cosmetic modifications.

Northrop Grumman confirms restoration of the General Electric
YF120-powered PAV-2 is taking place, but declines to comment on whether
the revived YF-23A is linked to any USAF proposal. But sources close to
the studies, which were kicked off by the USAF's recently issued request
for information, say Northrop Grumman now includes a YF-23-based
"regional" bomber concept among its raft of proposals and that the USAF
"is interested".

Until now, the company's offerings are known to include an upgraded B-2,
X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV)-based studies, and possible
designs based on its quiet supersonic technology programme. The
distinctive, rhomboid-winged YF-23A lost out to Lockheed Martin's YF-22
in the ATF competition in 1991, but proved a valuable technology testbed
for Northrop Grumman, which gave it all-aspect stealth. The company says
it "drew upon a wide range of experience for its response to the interim
bomber RFI, and the YF-23 is one".

Other contenders include a Boeing's B-1R (regional) re-engined bomber
studies and a larger D-model version of its X-45 UCAV, while Lockheed
Martin is considering various derivatives of the F/A-22. These include
single- and two-seat, re-winged, and tailless versions dubbed the FB-22,
the larger of which would be able to cruise at Mach 1.8 and have 75% of
the range of the B-2 carrying up to 30 115-kg (250-lb) small-diameter
bombs. Lockheed Martin is also understood to be offering a variety of
other manned designs, including a flying-wing concept.

The interim bomber is intended to bridge the gap between the current
bomber fleet and a next-generation aircraft planned for 2037. The
present timetable calls for a development effort to start in 2006, with
an initial operating capability by 2015.

GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES

I've said it before... that aircraft gives me WOOD!

If they can pull this off it will rank right up there with the YF-17 being dumped and reborn as the F/A-18.

I think Northrop is the only contractor that can lose a competition and still be contracted to build airplanes.

Stretch it out a bit and add a second seat.  Thats simply a WICKED looking AC.  LOVE IT.  

I always rated this plane over the F22… It LOOKS almost 'alien'…


Andy

That bird is shit hot!  However as awesome as she is I'd still like to see the USAF go with an upgraded and F-22 engined B-1(no replacement for displacement).

Northrop should've won the contact, IMO.

I mean, the YF-23 is simply a pure-breed eagle of ungodly death. The name "Black Widow" is fitting - for the opponets of the aircraft.

Quite possible the only aircraft I could masturbate to.

Quoted: Northrop P-61 Black Widow (sorry, no IMG links to this site)

Nightfighter. One of the best of its time.

Hot Damn!!  I was rooting for that bird during the ATF competition w/ the F-22.  Love the look of the thing; its smooth lines abd beautiful curves when compared to the 22.

The only reason that the YF-23 lost to the F-22 is that the Air Force is run by fighter pilots who are in love with manuverability, which the 22 had in aces. The 23 won in every important aspect but manuverability and  thus it lost....stupid fighter jocks....

The P-61 Black Widow

The YF-23 is also much less vulnerable to heat-seeking missiles... I mean, look at the heat dispersion it has. It puts to shame the F/A-22's huge exhaust.

Much safer.

kewl plane !

I never realized how big that plane is compared to a F-16

That's one big MFing jet...for a fighter. Look how big that sucker is. Shiiiiite.

I'm telling ya, Americans can make some really, really badass shit.

I absolutely loooove threads like this.

I hope the aircraft succeeds in this role. It is too good a plane to not be in service in some capacity or other.

Isn't the 23 more stealthy than the 22? It would seem they would be the perfect pair to match up. Let the F-22 handle keeping the sky clear of enemy bandits and let the F-23 sneak in and knock the hell out of something. Kind of like how the F-15 and F-16 have been paired up over the past 20 some years. Or even more like the F-15C and F-15E have been recently.  And while the F-23 may not share the maneuverability of the F-22, it should more than be able to defend itself in the air if need be.

I've long felt that retiring the whole F-111 fleet (as well as the US Navy A-6) left us too short on aircraft with deep penetration-precision strike ability. The F-23 could be perfect for the role. I so hope this happens. If they want an updated B-1, then go for it. But we need a new strike fighter to go with it. We only have something like 132 F-15E's and no F-111's or A-6's anymore. That means we have several hundred fewer aircraft to use in that role than we did just a few years ago.

You know, turning that thing into a bomber seems like the perfect thing to do.

BTW, are the '22 and '23 more stealthy than the '117? I'm guessing they are quite a bit more so, given that they are 10 to 15 years newer. If this is so, then the '117 could be replaced by the '23 quite easily. It would probably do a better job, too. Not that the '117 had deficiences (we've only lost one '117 to enemy fire since it became operational, IIRC).

never really liked the look of the yf23
I want them to make a YF19
www.steelfalcon.com/Macross/yf19.shtml
www.ehobbyland.com/Macross/MAC-Hase-YF-19.jpg

It always thought it was the better looking of the two... Looks almost like a future space fighter or something. I know dick about performance differences though.

Quoted: Quoted: never really liked the look of the yf23 I want them to make a YF19 www.steelfalcon.com/Macross/yf19.shtml www.ehobbyland.com/Macross/MAC-Hase-YF-19.jpg ArfcommersSharky30

Go get a copy of "Macross Plus" and come back and say that again.  There isn't anyone here that loves aircraft that won't and over the flying sequences.

No matter what they do I personally hope they do not fase out the A-10. Too many people are getting so impressed with this wiz-bang stuff that they are losing sight of the simple fact that it is a slow low flying heavily armored craft that is best for CAS missions.

 The A-10 can stay on target longer, take more damage, and deliver more brutal on target ordnance than any other currently active aircraft in the US arsenal.

A10s kick ass


and I'm wearning my super duper kevlar covered steel/ceramic composite cup, so that kick had no effect

Anybody notice the SAC logo on the tail fin?

Sweet. I love new aircraft. The AF needs a new medium bomber with high on station time. We need something that hold 15 jdams, and can orbit for hours. I know the heavy bombers can do it, but they are expensive to run. The F15 and F16 cant hold enough. I just with I could fly anything in the military. Stupid eyes......

Quoted: Anybody notice the SAC logo on the tail fin?

Not SAC, ACC (Air Combat Command).

It seems like the gov. had a hard time choosing between the F-22/F-23 so in AR-15.com tradition....
GET BOTH!!!!!!

Sturnwehr...

Northrop should've won the contact, IMO. I mean, the YF-23 is simply a pure-breed eagle of ungodly death. The name "Black Widow" is fitting - for the opponets of the aircraft. Quite possible the only aircraft I could masturbate to.

Strangely, I agree with every word you said!  

God I love that plane. That plane and the B1 are probably the two best looking aircraft ever made. They kick a shit load of ass to boot. It's a shame they didn't develop it instead of the F22. It looks a lot like the Centurion fighter from the old PC game, Privateer:

I'm not sure how many bombs this jet could carry. I'm sure less than the F-111 or F-15E, as stealthy planes are forced to give up much of their payload to remain stealthy. But I bet that with more stealthy munitions themselves, you can sling quite a few under the wings as well as in the internal bay. In fact, we already have some bomb or missile with a stealthy appearance. Is it the JSOW? The weapon has the same angles as the stealth planes. That would have to help them when carrying external stores and allow them tp up their capability considerably.

bump cuz this is a cool thread.

That plane looks damn sexy when viewed from the front. The rear portion isn't pretty, but demonstrates how well thought out the design is. Just imagine how those engines set back into the fuselage will reduce heat signature for heat seeking missiles. This is a very well designed aircraft with tons of potential. I wouldn't want to give it up for the F-22 nor the F-22 for it. We simply need both!

Quoted: BTW, are the '22 and '23 more stealthy than the '117?

By multiples, from the information I've seen - although that isn't official.

By damned, both are more stable than a Nighthawk.

Quoted: No matter what they do I personally hope they do not fase out the A-10.

The F/A-22 and YF-23 can't even compete with the A-10 for its designated role. Their loiter time is way too short and their payload and survivability isn't enough.

That thing is cool.

A year or two ago Popular Mechanics had a cover story on the theoretical "FB-22".The thing was wicked...tailess delta winged bomber version of the F-22 that in theory had very impressive range and payload.

If I wasn't web-tarded I'd post picks or a link to it.

Shameless bump.

Quoted: That thing is cool. A year or two ago Popular Mechanics had a cover story on the theoretical "FB-22".The thing was wicked...tailess delta winged bomber version of the F-22 that in theory had very impressive range and payload. If I wasn't web-tarded I'd post picks or a link to it.

The F-22 is SOOoooo much prettier than that fugly thing! Stealth is cool but speed+agility = life!

F-22 =sexy bitch.

S.O.

Quoted: Quoted: BTW, are the '22 and '23 more stealthy than the '117? By multiples, from the information I've seen - although that isn't official. By damned, both are more stable than a Nighthawk.

They are so far ahead of the F-117 that the USAF didn't get upset when an F-117 was downed over Sebia… it was not last years model, more like last 3 DECADES model!

Andy

Quoted: That thing is cool. A year or two ago Popular Mechanics had a cover story on the theoretical "FB-22".The thing was wicked...tailess delta winged bomber version of the F-22 that in theory had very impressive range and payload. If I wasn't web-tarded I'd post picks or a link to it.

All these photoshops and mockups are just rehashing the Aurora, which I'd bet a month's pay is already around.

Quoted: All these photoshops and mockups are just rehashing the Aurora, which I'd bet a month's pay is already around.

...Of course something like the Aurora is around.