Specifications
Year: 1972
Status: Cancelled
Manufacturer(s): Nothrop Aviation - USA
Production: 2
Capabilities: X-Plane;
Status: Cancelled
Manufacturer(s): Nothrop Aviation - USA
Production: 2
Capabilities: X-Plane;
Crew: 1
Length: 55.77 ft (17 m)
Width: 114.83 ft (35 m)
Height: 16.40 ft (5 m)
Weight (Empty): 17,196 lb (7,800 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 34,348 lb (15,580 kg)
Length: 55.77 ft (17 m)
Width: 114.83 ft (35 m)
Height: 16.40 ft (5 m)
Weight (Empty): 17,196 lb (7,800 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 34,348 lb (15,580 kg)
Power: 2 x General Electric YJ101-100 afterburning turbojet engines developing 14,400lb thrust each.
Speed: 1,496 mph (2,407 kph; 1,300 kts)
Ceiling: 49,213 feet (15,000 m; 9.32 miles)
Range: 2,989 miles (4,811 km; 2,598 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 50,000 ft/min (15,240 m/min)
Ceiling: 49,213 feet (15,000 m; 9.32 miles)
Range: 2,989 miles (4,811 km; 2,598 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 50,000 ft/min (15,240 m/min)
Operators: United States (cancelled)
The Lightweight Fighter Program called for a prototype that was small and low cost / maintenance, with the capabilities of an air superiority day fighter. Though losing out to the General Dynamics YF-16 (later to become the F-16 Fighting Falcon), the YF-17 would see bluer skies in the form of the later F/A-18 Hornet aboard the carrier of the United States Navy.
After the failed LWF fly-off competition for the YF-17 Cobra, tests began with NASA over a seven week period that included in-flight pressure data recorded through sensors from all over the aircraft airframe, studies in transonic maneuverability, and stability and control factors in controlled forty-five minute long flights.
In the end, the YF-17 Cobra would set the stage for the first prototypes and production models of the highly successful F/A-18 series of aircraft, leading up to the "Super Hornet" design and the eventual successor to the much regarded F-14 Tomcat series of carrier-based interceptors.
Armament
AS TESTED/PROPOSED:
1 x 20mm Vulcan internal cannon
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-Air (AA) missiles on wingtips
Variants / Models
• YF-17 "Cobra" - Technology demonstrator
• F/A-18 "Hornet" - Larger / heavier variant based on the YF-17.
