Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft (Stealth Fighter Technology Demonstrator)
Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation, McDonnell Douglas
Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 Aircraft Overview
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was a night fighter aircraft developed by Northrop Corporation during World War II. It was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for the night-fighting role.
The P-61 was a twin-engine, twin-boom aircraft with a crew of three. It was armed with four 20mm cannons and four .50 caliber machine guns and had a radar system that allowed it to detect and engage enemy aircraft at night.
The P-61 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1944 and saw combat in both the European and Pacific theaters of the war. It was primarily used for night interception and ground attack missions, and was particularly effective at destroying enemy bombers.
In addition to its role as a night fighter, the P-61 was also used as a transport aircraft, with some versions modified to carry personnel or cargo.
Despite its effectiveness, the P-61 was retired from service shortly after the end of World War II, as advances in radar technology led to the development of more advanced night fighters. However, a few P-61s were used by the United States Air Force for reconnaissance and training missions until the early 1950s.
Today, several P-61s are preserved in museums and private collections around the world, serving as a reminder of this important aircraft’s role in World War II.
Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 67 ft 5 in (20.55 m)
- Wingspan: 43 ft 7 in (13.28 m)
- Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
- Wing area: 900 sq ft (84 m2)
- Empty weight: 29,000 lb (13,154 kg)
- Gross weight: 51,320 lb (23,278 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 62,000 lb (28,123 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney YF119 or General Electric YF120 afterburning turbofan engines, 35,000 lbf (160 kN) with afterburner
Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (1,450 mph, 2,335 km/h) at high altitude
- Supercruise: Mach 1.6+ at altitude
- Range: 2,424 nmi (2,789 mi, 4,489 km)
- Combat range: 651–695 nmi (749–800 mi, 1,206–1,287 km)
- Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
- Wing loading: 57 lb/sq ft (280 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 1.36
Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 Armament
None as tested but provisions made for:
- 1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M61 Vulcan cannon
- 4 × AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missiles
- 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
